Creative Sonoma announces 11 finalists vying for artist grants

Sonoma County visual artists get a nod, and a shot at some financial support, in the fourth annual “Discovered” juried exhibition program, which has moved ahead with the annoucement of 11 finalists by Creative Sonoma, a division of Sonoma County’s Economic Development Board.

The finalists will receive studio visits from the program’s jurors, who will select up to six artists to receive a $2,000 stipend each.

The program is designed to advance the careers whose work has not been adequately recognized in the past. The winning artists’ work will be exhibited at the Petaluma Arts Center from Jan. 21 to March 19, 2017.

Finalists include: Jenny Harp, mixed media; Briona Hendren, mixed media; Karen Hess, photography; Dayana Leon, oil; Chris McKee, hand made paint/tempura; Kate Oltmann, lithograph; Gregory Pagel, sculpture; Julia Pozsgai, acrylic; Catherine Sieck, paper; Kala Stein, porcelain; Darryl Vance, oil/acrylic; Jaynee Watson, mixed media.

Jurors for the show include Kate Eilertsen, former executive director of the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art in Sonoma, who is also the lead curator, as well as Michael Schwager from Sonoma State University and local visual artist Jessica Martin.

You can reach staff writer Dan Taylor at 521-5243 or dan.taylor@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @danarts.