VIDEO: MI Great Artist 2014 reception

In case you missed it, or would like a recap of the wonderful evening, check out the reception for the MI Great Artist 2014 online competition, held Dec. 11 at Park West Gallery in Southfield, Michigan.

A total of 92 artists from the counties of Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Oakland and St. Clair entered the contest, with the winner receiving $1,500 and a solo exhibition at Park West Gallery among other prizes.

A combination of public voting and a panel of five judges narrowed the field down to five finalists. From there a winner was chosen.

Park West Gallery founder and CEO Albert Scaglione and Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson announced Birmingham resident Weatherly Stroh as the winner during the reception.

Stroh specializes in animal and landscape paintings. She is a graduate of the University of Colorado and worked as an elementary teacher before turning to painting full time in 2010. She is the great-grandniece of American impressionist painter Gari Melchers.

The other finalists in this year’s competition were Estela Boudreau of St. Clair Shores, Pat McManus of Warren, Kim Fujiwara of Rochester Hills and Larry Zdeb of Troy.

“I just can’t thank you enough for the hard work, for the dedication, for the hours in the studio that you spend,” said Scaglione. “God bless you, keep up the good work, thank you all very much.”

Judges for the 2014 MI Great Artist contest included: Scaglione; Elliot Broom, Detroit Institute of Arts vice president of museum operations; Dominic Pangborn, artist and founder of Pangborn Design Collection; Kristie Everett Domora, founding editor of Oakland County Prosper magazine; and Don Tocco, artist and founder of Tocco and Associates, Inc.

“The judges told me that, once again, the competition was close this year,” said Patterson. “These five artists are so talented that it gets right down to the end.”

For more information about the reception and MI Great Artist, click here.

Weatherly Stroh