RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - Art at City Hall officially opened its 51st exhibit at the reception on April 30 at Rancho Cordova City Hall, attended by artists and art lovers. 

The theme of this exhibit is “It’s All About Me,” and the object for the artists was to “create a work that represents you as a self-portrait.”

The evening’s highlight was when Cheryl Gleason, Mills Stations Art & Culture Center (The MACC) event coordinator and curator, handed out prize ribbons to the winners.

Best of Show went to Jeremy Wells for his image,“Absurdity to Seriousness,” done in charcoal and colored pencil.

“There are times in our life when we can do art that from other people’s perspective might look crazy or just absurd but it’s actually something that’s very meaningful or important and it’s a big thing,” said the young artist, Wells, in an interview.

Although Wells has not had work in Art at City Hall before, he has shown in a member show at the Mills Stations Art & Culture Center, appeared in the State Fair art exhibit last year and has been in Sacramento Fine Arts Association events.

“I’ve always been a little creative growing up but have been drawing seriously for the past four-ish years,” Wells said.

In the past, Wells liked to draw for practice and it led him to his own ideas. Wells’ faith is also important to him.

“I’m a Christian,” Wells said, “and I’ve started doing some drawing for my church or even just for myself that incorporates my faith. That’s part of my dream.”

Valerie Messervy Birkhoff took first-place at this show, with her sculpture in porcelain clay, “Blatherskite.”

“It means kind of a scamp,” Birkhoff said. “I think she represents to me this mischievous side we all have and that sometimes we embrace and sometimes we try to shove it down and keep it quiet.”  

Birkhoff welcomes challenges.

“I’ll think of something, and I’m like ‘Oh, that sounds way too hard,; I’d better try it!” Accepting her award ribbon, Birkhoff said, “It’s a very big honor.”

Second-place was awarded to Carolyn Cunningham’s “Outlook,” showing a portrait of half her face, done in mixed media, ink and collage. Retired now, Cunningham was an art teacher in public school. What she enjoys most about doing art, Cunningham said, is that “I can make pictures and designs and things that I enjoy. And if other people enjoy it, then that’s just all the better.”

Third-place winner Hei Fok was born and raised in Hong Kong. His winning work is “Me #1,” done in acrylic and latex.

“As a kid, we all had to practice Chinese calligraphy, Fok said. “There is a part about dragging a brush that is actually sometimes in my painting still.” 

In Fok’s painting, the child figure, which represents himself as a child, fades away at the legs.

“I think my use of that (fading) is often about life being not always so solid or so certain . . . life is not necessarily so strong,” Fok said.

Two honorable mentions were awarded at the reception, one to David Peterson’s watercolor, “Colors of Life,” and one to Judy Pinner for her mixed media piece, “I Am a Dancer.”

This exhibit runs from April 21 through July 25 at Rancho Cordova City Hall, 2729 Prospect Park Drive, Rancho Cordova.