Art Grows Rexburg has its Annual Adult Art Competition on display, where you can admire the talent of local artists.
The non-profit organization is dedicated to helping members of the community realize their artistic abilities, regardless of age or skill level, according to its website.
The awards presentation was on June 24 in the Hemming Village Atrium. The event had chamber music provided by the Mt. Moran String Quartet, a guest artist speaker and plenty of art to enjoy.
The guest artist, Brian Astle, spoke about the impact a piece of art can have beyond the artist.
“I think most people don’t give themselves enough credit. When you make a piece of artwork, you don’t realize the life it’s going to have outside of your influence with it,” Astle said.
There were three submission categories: Student, Amateur and Professional. There were 133 submissions in total. The awards are as follows:
Student
1st place $350 - Donnie Tapp “Hometown Hero” Oil
2nd place $200 – Jacob Hodges “Chasing the Light” Acrylic
3rd place $100 – Allie Eagar “Retranche” Collage
Merit Award $50 – Breezy Stein “Shifting” Spray Paint & Paper
Merit Award $50 – MaKayla Erickson “The Ram” Scratchboard
Honorable Mention -Samantha Lucille “Machinery” Drypoint Intaglio Print
Honorable Mention – Emily Munoz “Early Morning” Photography

Amateur
1st place $400 – Amy Clements “Artery” Fiber Art
2nd place $250 – Ali Dye “Palm Springs View No. 1” Acrylic
3rd place $150 – Eli Kerns “Singer” Intaglio
Merit Award $75 – Benjamin Haacke “Late Morning Sun Baathers” Oil
Merit Award $75 – Ambria Quinlan “Hushing Thoughts” Watercolor
Honorable Mention – Brian Kinghorn “Sunrise Barn” Photography
Honorable Mention – Gaylen Somers “Mystic Morning Mint”
Professional
2nd place $750 – Darren Clark “Spring, Walker, ID 2021” Photography
3rd place $500 – Colter May “American Icon” Oil
Merit Award $100 – Stephenie Call “Thinking” Charcoal
Merit Award $100 – Sonja Johnson “South Side Garage” Colored Pencil
Honorable Mention – Nolan Parson “He Who Hesitates” Oil
Honorable Mention – Megan Cook “The Landscape Arch” Photography
Next year, Art Grows Rexburg will bring back its in-person Children’s Art Camp followed by the Children’s Art Competition. Keep an eye out for that in June 2022.
The Adult Art Exhibit will be on display until July 15 in the lobby of Hemming Village. Take a walk on both floors while it's still here!
To stay up to date, visit their website here.