Malpais International Art Show Showcases Artists Around the World – Winners Announced

The City of Grants, NM, USA, was host to the Malpais International Art Show on May 19th, 2012 with 36 artists from around the world. The show was organized by the World Artists Corporation and featured artists from within New Mexico, the United States and 12 other countries including Spain, Russia, United Kingdom, Norway, Canada, Germany, Croatia, Slovakia, Philippines, Qatar, Thailand and Bosnia.

Best in Show went to Adolfo Fernandez Rodriguez from Madrid, Spain, for his piece titled, Minuet-I-II, J.S. Sebastian Bach. Adolfo came to be in the show by winning a monthly juried contest at the World Artists Contest group on Facebook, which now boasts over 1300 members. In response to the win, Adolfo simply said, “Gracias de Corazon, Amigos!”, or, “Thanks from the heart, Friends!”

The winners were announced at an evening reception, which was also streamed live worldwide and reached at least 10 countries. Other winners included second place for Colin Pringle from Las Vegas, NV, USA, with his painting, Agatha, and a tie for third place between Holly Kallie from Oconomowoc, WI, USA, with her piece, She Slept Like a Log, and Patrick Matriscino from Victor, NY, USA, with his piece, Catch of the Day. Honorable mentions went to Andrey Nikulin of Moscow, Russia with his piece, Dahlia, Sylvia Palumbiny of Bratislava, Slovakia, for her piece, In the Silence of the Night, and Jason Morgan, of Ebbw Vale, UK, for his entry, The Great Migration. There were 53 juried entries and well over 500 overall pieces of art viewable at the show. The winners will receive a variety of prizes and cash awards.

“This was a unique event for the art world, due to the combination of artists displaying in-person and on large high resolution screens, for those who could not make the journey to the show,” said event organizer, Peter K Yanke. “The judging was completed entirely on large high resolution screens as well, and the overall concept was extremely well received by all who attended,” he continued. “With the winners covering 5 different countries and artists already planning to attend next year’s show, we believe we are really on to something with this type of worldwide art event.”

The Malpais International Art Show concept was developed by the World Artists Corporation, who also organize the World Artists Contest (www.WorldArtistsContest.com), a monthly juried art competition through Facebook. Winners of the monthly contest are chosen by real-world judges and get an automatic entry into the annual show. Artists participating in the show included, Adolfo Rodriguez Fernandez, Amber Thomas, Andrey Nikulin, Barbara Berney, Ben Arthur, Berit Blindheim, Bodil Grytten, Cathy Pascoe, Christina Boetzel, Colin Pringle, Dana Helmig, Darlene Weaver, Donna Lee Nelson, Drazen Pavlovic, Elenita Dumlao, Evgeniya Vlasova, Giuliano Cavallo, Holly Kallie, Jason Morgan, Jessica Foster, John Johnson, Jusuf Muharemovic, Kim Selig, Layeeqa Fathima, Line Moen, Neli Skoric, Patrick Matriscino, Rafael Gonzales, RP Callahan, Sandra Ragan, Susan Roberts, Susan Singleton, Sylvia Palumbiny, Tim Hagerty, Verlie Murphy and Vesna Martinjak.