This year the Grand accepted over 70 works of art in the adult and student categories. All art was submitted by local and regional artists in multiple mediums.

Tamara Furth, Program Manager for the Grand, said this year’s ArtScape was special because it was a return to an in-person gallery opening. Last year’s ArtScape was conducted virtually. Many of the artists were excited to attend the event after a year away.

ArtScape is different from most of the Grand’s gallery exhibits because it is a juried show. Awards were given for first, second, and third prize in both adult and student categories, along with Honorable Mention.

Mankato-based artist Amanda Wirig served as this year’s judge. Wirig said it was a difficult show to judge because all submissions were different and of high quality.

Ann Doubler’s “Horse Head” took 3rd place in the Artscape art show. Doubler based the painting off her niece’s horse. She used her father’s old bridal and real horse hair to give the painting another dimension.

In the student category, Giana Anderson was awarded honorable mention for “Buzz Bee,” a glass bee sculpture.

Ella Forst received 2nd for painting “Confidence.” Forst is in junior high school and has entered ArtScape several times in the past. She said that recently her artwork has been designed to make people feel more confident.

“That’s what I try to do with my art,” Forst said. Her 2nd place acrylic painting depicts a woman in a two-piece bathing suit using high contrast colors.

The grand prize in the student category went to Amanda Pearson for “Penciled Paints.” The piece depicted an almost photo-realistic depiction of paint tubes created with colored pencils.

In the adult division, there were three honorable mentions, Wade Davis “The Resistance; Jim Muyres “Badland” and Jesse Cordes “Currents.”

Confidence took 2nd place in the Artscape student division. The painting was created by Ella Forst. She said the focus of her art work lately has been to give individuals confidence.

Third place went to Ann Doubler for “Horse Head.” Doubler’s painting of a horse head featured multiple 3-D elements. The horse’s bridle belonging to her father was attached to the painting, as was real horsehair. Double said much of her work has 3-D elements. The piece was a crowd favorite for how it popped out of the wall.

Second place went to Marjie Laizure for her oil painting “In the Weeds.” The painting featured women surrounded by dried plant life and a butterfly.

The Grand prize went to Nicholas Schlief for “The Tale Telling Heart.” Schleif painting depicted writer Edgar Allen Poe’s face made from several individual dots that form the text of his famous poem, “The Raven.”

Schleif has won awards at past ArtScape for his unique approach to portraits. His signature style is to create portraits of famous individuals, often using the celebrity’s actual words.

Schlief said it took four to five weeks to create “The Tale Telling Heart.” Even though he has won awards at ArtScape before, Schlief said he was always excited to be honored again.

In addition to the awards given last night a special People’s Choice Award will be given after ArtScape closes. Visitors to the Grand are allowed to vote for their favorite adult and student art piece. The votes will be tallied after the exhibit closes. The People’s Choice will be announced after Dec. 17.

The work will be on display in the 4 Pillars Gallery from November 19-December 17.

The gallery exhibit is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.