Birdhouse Artist Wins People’s Choice at Sturgeon Bay Fair

Sue Knox won the People’s Choice award at the Sturgeon Bay Art Fair for her birdhouses. Submitted.

Choosing the top artists from a park full of talented creators was a challenge during the 18th annual Sturgeon Bay Fine Art Fair. Guest judge Elizabeth Meissner-Gigstead, executive director of the Miller Art Museum, scrutinized the booths filled with original artwork, and brooded over the decisions of which artist to award.

“Technical proficiency, regardless of media, was the basis for my decision-making process along with originality in the artists’ ideas, presentation and overall strength in the work exhibited,” said Meissner-Gigstead. “Given the nature of art fairs – and Sturgeon Bay is no exception – there is a broad range of work in terms of both style and media, which makes choosing just a handful of artists out of 100 exhibiting extremely difficult. The job required a great deal of careful viewing and scrutinization of the work.”

The following awards were presented: Best of Show – Michael Thee, Milwaukee, jewelry; First Place-2D – Nicole Lilyquist, Sheboygan, collage paintings and drawings; First Place-3D – Lisa Weber & Rick Cartwright, Oak Creek, pottery; Second Place-2D – Randy & Lisa Lee, Luck, photographers; Second Place-3D – Andrea Hartmann, Oconomowoc, pottery; Third Place-2D – Scot Schmidt, Oshkosh, limestone sculpture paintings; Third Place-3D – Ilze Heider, leatherwork; Honorable Mentions – painter Lenny Nagler of Appleton and potter Nancy Briggs of Des Moines.

The people voted during the two days of the Fine Art Fair for birdhouse artist Sue Knox of Cedarburg to receive the People’s Choice award.