Best of the Fest: Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts announces juried award recipients
The Best in Show Award at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts was presented to David Stoltzfus of Lancaster for his pen and ink with oil paint on wood panel, A Place of Black Stars. Courtesy photo
Long Lost, and Found (#1) by Cecil Fish of Tyrone received an Award of Merit at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. Courtesy photo
The Best in Show Award at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts was presented to David Stoltzfus of Lancaster for his pen and ink with oil paint on wood panel, A Place of Black Stars. Courtesy photo
Long Lost, and Found (#1) by Cecil Fish of Tyrone received an Award of Merit at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. Courtesy photo
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The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts has announced the recipients of $1,800 in awards for Images 2026, the Festival's annual juried exhibition of fine art.
Award winners were selected by this year's juror, Amanda H. Hellman, director of the Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State. Hellman also curated the exhibition, selecting 46 works from 361 submissions by artists from across Pennsylvania.
The Best in Show Award was presented to David Stoltzfus of Lancaster for his pen and ink with oil paint on wood panel, A Place of Black Stars. The award was sponsored by the Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County.
The State College Photo Club sponsored the award for Best Photograph, presented to Elisha Eseonu of Mechanicsburg for her photograph, Fractured.
The Central Pennsylvania Pastel Society sponsored the award for Best Pastel, presented to Anne Kenyon of State College for her pastel, Pond - End of Season.
Benson and Christine Lichtig sponsored the award for Best Painting, presented to Ronald Beach of Montoursville for his acrylic painting, Inquisitive - Red Fox.
The following works received Awards of Merit:
-- Botanical Alchemy 202612124 by Patricia Kucker of Philadelphia.
-- Long Lost, and Found (#1) by Cecil Fish of Tyrone.
-- Splinter Hill Bog by Kim Breit of Pittsburgh.
-- Rainy Woodland by Andre Chaszar of University Park.
The Awards of Merit were sponsored by the Art Alliance of Central Pennsylvania, the Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County and Joyce Robinson & Norman Spivey.
The Schlow Library Foundation also offered sponsorship support.
The awards were presented during a reception hosted by the Schlow Library Foundation July 9 as part of the 60th Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts.
Visitors are encouraged to experience Images 2026 throughout the month of July at Schlow Centre Region Library. The exhibition showcases a remarkable range of artistic styles, subjects, and two-dimensional media created by some of Pennsylvania's most talented artists.
Admission to the exhibition is free, and all artwork is available for viewing during regular library hours through July 31. Those unable to visit in person may also explore the exhibition online at arts-festival.com/images-exhibition-gallery.
All works in the exhibition are available for purchase. Anyone interested in acquiring artwork may contact Jennifer Shuey at the Arts Festival office at 814-237-3682 or jshuey@arts-festival.com and will be connected directly with the artist.
In addition to the juror-selected awards, visitors to the exhibition can help choose one final winner. Guests are invited to vote for the Viewers' Choice Award by scanning the QR code displayed in the gallery through July 31. The Viewers' Choice Award is sponsored by The Gallery Shop, and the winner will be announced following the close of the exhibition.