David “RC” Oster’s drawing was judged the Best in Show. Oster was one of 216 artists represented at Colorscape Chenango. (Submitted photo)

NORWICH - The 30th Anniversary Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival welcomed 216 juried visual artists to East and West Parks in downtown Norwich on September 7 and 8. Nearly $6,000 in awards was presented to the artists who were judged to be the best at the complimentary Awards Breakfast at the Broad Street Methodist Church on Sunday and congratulations are due to all. 

This year’s panel of judges was made up of Lisa Oristian of Hubbardsville, Diana Plenert of Rome, Lori Wilson of New Berlin, Logan Balla of Guilford and Stephen Clark of Plymouth. Each judge specializes in a different medium and reviews the exhibitors in that medium for three consecutive years, with one or more rotating off each year. All panelists must agree on Best of Show and Best Booth awards. 

Congratulations and thank you to all this year’s Colorscape award winners, along with all the other artists who participated in the festival. Special congratulations to David “RC” Oster of Utica, who won the 2024 Best of Show award with his beautiful drawings, and Elder Sisters Apothecary, new to the show this year, who were awarded the Best Booth award. We’ll see you all again for the 31st Annual Colorscape, September 6 and 7, 2025.

- Information from Peggy L Finnegan, Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival

COLORSCAPE CHENANGO ARTS FESTIVAL

2024 AWARD WINNERS

Award winners at this year’s festival included the following:

BEST OF SHOW: David Oster RC Oster Utica, NY

BEST BOOTH: Jackie Foley & Lisa Benner, Elder Sisters Apothecary, Davenport, NY

Ceramics: 1st- Isa Kollgaard, Isa Kollgaard Artwork, Nazareth, PA; 2nd- Su Shannon, SuChi Pottery Pittsford, VT; 3rd- Diane Sullivan, Diane Sullivan Design, Ithaca, NY

Drawings, Pastels & Prints: 1st- David Oster, RC Oster Utica, NY; 2nd- Grant Dolge, Tully, NY; 3rd- Diane Castle Babcock, Penfield, NY

Fiber: 1st- Connie Noftsier, Connie Noftsier Studio, Croghan, NY; 2nd- Darcy Stricker, Frontier Baskets, New Paltz, NY; 3rd- Lis Barsuglia-Madsen & Michael Barsulia, Heirlooms, Harrisville, NY

Wearable Fiber: 1st- Laura Weliuczka Williska, Gansevoort, NY; 2nd- Lis Barsuglia-Madsen & Michael Barsulia, Heirlooms, Harrisville, NY; 3rd- Maren True, True Creatrix, LLC, Sherburne, NY

Glass: 1st- Jennifer Barnaby, Second Chance Glass, Binghamton, NY; 2nd- H. Dennis Christie, Christie Glass Works Studio, Easton, PA; 3rd- Cheryl Gutmaker The Lady’s Got Glass, Scotia, NY

Jewelry: 1st- Nancy Miller, Nancy Miller Jewelry Designs, Saratoga Springs, NY; 2nd- Sarah Jordan Jewelry by Sarah Jordan, Fort Plain, NY; 3rd- Marissa Perkins, Creative Roots Studio, Herkimer, NY

Mixed Media: 1st- Pat Martin, Vestal, NY; 2nd- Leah Corey aMEUSEments, Bath, NY; 3rd- Richard Birkett, Fantasy Clocks, Otego, NY

Oil & Acrylic Paintings: 1st- D. Michael Price, Bainbridge, NY; 2nd- Michael Wolski, Becket, MA; 3rd- Tom Hussey, Auburn, NY

Other: 1st- Mia Sohn Pysanky, by Mia, Rochester, NY; 2nd- Robert & Elizabeth Yates, Studio Yates, McDonough, NY; 3rd- Maggie Alexander, Maggie’s Farm, Brookfield, NY

Photography: 1st- Jody Hildreth Acron, Whimsey, Waterville, NY; 2nd- Paul Morelli, Morell iPhotography, Ballston Spa, NY; 3rd- Lee Ingraham, Ingraham Stonehouse Photography, Sherburne, NY

Sculpture: 1st- Linda Kays Biviano, Linda Kays Studios, Norwich, NY; 2nd- John Jackson, Whimsical Metal Sculptures, Jefferson, NY; 3rd- Brian Harnett, Harnett Designs Woodworking, Grahamsville, NY

Watercolors: 1st- Terry Smith, Wild Ravens, Johnstown, PA; 2nd- Grant Dolge, Tully, NY; 3rd- Rachel C. Consolazio, Rachel C. Pottery, Apalachin, NY

Wood: 1st- Moe Lalonde, Lalonde Studios, Clinton, NY; 2nd- William Grimes, Bill’s Woodworking, So. New Berlin, NY; 3rd- Frank Perrone, Franklin Blades, LLC, Eastchester, NY