Winners named Sunday in 'Art for the Health of It' exhibition

The winners of the Art for the Health of It juried exhibition were announced Sunday during a ceremony at the Southeast Missouri Hospital surgical waiting area.

Art for the Health of It is a contest and exhibition sponsored by the hospital and the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri that focuses on the healing power of art by placing art in a hospital setting, where it can be viewed by patients, their families and their doctors.

Prizes were awarded to one artist for Best in Show, while four Juror's Choice awards were handed out. The juror for the exhibition was Dr. Raymond Ritter, a local physician who has visited art museums around the world and studied with artists at several schools. Ritter is also a student of Oran artist Cleda Curtis-Neal.

Priscilla Kasten was awarded Best in Show for her painting "Little Dancing Flowers." Kathryn Breitenstein was awarded Juror's Choice for "Sisters"; Tom Neumeyer received a Juror's Choice for "Peruvian Lillies"; Vicki Outman for "Shady Side at Mel's Pond"; and Barbara Ross for "Lady in Red Hat."

Ritter said he selected Kasten's piece for the ultmiate award for its technical excellence, emotional content and storytelling.

In all, 106 works were entered in the competition, and 63 pieces were selected to be part of the exhibit. The art will now hang in the hospital's surgical waiting room.

msanders@semissourian.com

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