First Place

Home Sweet Wood Home
wood carving

by Victor Mercado, an adult artist from the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind in Miami, FL

First Place in the Craft Category is Victor Mercado, an adult artist from the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind in Miami, FL, for “Home Wood Sweet Home.” This wood carved relief measures 6 by 8 by a ½ inch, depicting a cozy log cabin nestled in a wooded setting. The carving is detailed, showing the cabin with a steep roof, multiple windows, and a small chimney. Surrounding the house are trees with dense, textured foliage, creating a sense of depth and serenity. Carved cobblestones line the entryway of the cabin, and a sun beams from the upper right corner. Mercado intricately carves sunrays into the relief, casting a gentle glow over the home as if the sun is bathing it in light. The relief is rich in warm, earthy tones, with the natural grain of the wood enhancing the texture and intricacies of the carving. The piece is framed in a multi-layered, beveled frame with alternating shades of wood, cream, and black, which complements the natural rustic charm of the artwork. The frame has a polished wood finish with warm reddish-brown hues that match the tones of the carved wood, while the cream and black layers provide contrast and a sense of refinement. The overall presentation evokes feelings of warmth, home, and nature, capturing the essence of a peaceful countryside retreat.

Second Place

Dinner Time
mixed media, felting

by Carol Farnsworth, an independent artist from Ada, MI

Second Place in the Craft Category is Carol Farnsworth, an independent artist from Ada, MI, for “Dinner Time.” This felted, mixed media artwork measures 29 by 12 inches, depicting a hungry owl family in a tree! The central structure is a cylindrical, textured tree trunk made from a hollow tree trunk, with an opening near the bottom. Inside the opening, two fluffy gray baby owls with glowing yellow eyes peer out from their nest. Perched on top of the tree trunk is the larger parent owl, made from brown felt. It has a rounded, soft form, with small wings and prominent, shiny golden eyes that mirror those of the baby owls. Clutched in the parent owl’s talons is a small gray felted mouse, ready to be delivered to its young. The contrasting textures of the felted owls and the rough tree bark create a tactile, three-dimensional experience that immerses the viewer in this intimate moment of nature, capturing the anticipation of feeding time. The scene conveys warmth and care, centered around the natural instincts of family.

Third Place

Mosaic Desert
mosaic

by Giselle Herman, an adult artist from the Braille Institute of America in Los Angeles, CA

Third Place in the Craft Category is Giselle Herman, an adult artist from the Braille Institute of America in Los Angeles, CA, for “Mosaic Desert.” This gorgeous scene is 11 by 14 by ¾ inches and depicts desert landscape in a striking mosaic style. The central scene is composed of square and rectangular tiles of various colors and textures, arranged to create the impression of a desert environment. In the foreground, the desert floor is made up of muted beige, brown, and olive-green tiles, representing sandy and earthy tones. To the right, a pair of stylized palm trees stands tall, formed from dark brown tiles for the trunks and rounded green tiles for the fronds. On the left side, a camel, composed of orange-brown tiles, appears to be walking across the desert, blending into the sandy background. The background is dominated by two large pyramids, formed by a variety of brown, reddish, and copper-colored tiles, giving the impression of weathered stone. The pyramids rise prominently against a sky made up of light blue and pale blue tiles, arranged to convey a gradient of color from the ground to the upper sky. Two cloud shapes hover in the sky, made of textured white tiles. A bold onyx circle at the center-top of the mosaic likely represents the sun, casting its light over the scene. Overall, the use of geometric shapes and contrasting tile colors in Mosaic Desert creates a visually appealing and textured interpretation of a tranquil desert scene, blending both natural and architectural elements.

Honorable Mention

Floral Array
mixed media

by Bill Brown, an adult artist from the Braille Institute of America in Anaheim, CA

Honorable Mention in the Craft Category is Bill Brown, an adult artist from the Braille Institute of America in Anaheim, CA, for “Floral Array.” Floral Array measures 20 by 16 inches and is a richly textured fiber piece created on a canvas panel. It presents an abstract yet vibrant depiction of a large flower bloom. The use of yarn creates an almost tapestry-like effect, with the texture adding depth and dimension to the composition. The predominant color is a deep, bold red, which forms the petals of the flower. These petals fan outward in overlapping layers, some darker and richer in tone, while others appear lighter and more pinkish. The variations in color create a sense of movement and natural flow, as though the petals are unfolding. Contrasting the red petals, a bright yellow and orange circular section near the upper right suggests the center of the flower. This area is filled with black and green dotted accents, giving it a lively, almost playful texture that stands out against the smoother surfaces of the petals. In the background, dark green and purple shapes suggest leaves or other foliage. These darker tones offer a backdrop that contrasts with the bright red and yellow of the flower, allowing it to take center stage. Overall, the artist’s use of fiber provides a delightful tactile experience, inviting viewers to not only engage visually but to imagine the physical sensation of the textured surface. The combination of vivid colors and layered textures creates an eye-catching and dynamic floral representation – or should I say, array?