Door County Art League Honors Artists

Ernest Beutel (right) congratulates his art mentor, Tom Seagard, the newest addition to the Door County Master Artist honor roll.

Nov. 12, a crowd of artists and arts supporters gathered at the Miller Art Museum in Sturgeon Bay for the annual Door County Art League (DCAL) exhibition and reception.

DCAL President Marcia Nickols announced Tom Seagard as the Door County Master Artist for 2011. The award was presented to Seagard by one of his students, artist Ernest Beutel.

“Every year the Door County Art League chooses one Door County artist whose body of artwork represents a high level of achievement in their field,” said Nickols. “This artist must be publicly recognized for his/her contributions to art in Door County through community involvement, teaching, and/or promotion of the arts.”

A long-time artist and art educator, Seagard and Brigitte Kozma bought Mill Road Gallery in 1970. Seagard became involved with the Peninsula School of Art as a board member. He also worked with the Hardy Gallery and continues to help organize the Festival of Arts program.

Nickols also presented the “Deck the Halls” exhibit awards to seven artists. Connie Glowacki received first place for the watercolor “Snowy Branches;” Jan Comstock received second place for the oil on linen painting “Sunrise;” and Bridget Austin received third place for the watercolor “Festive Forest.” Honorable mention recipients included Randy Rasmussen, Archelle “Buttons” Wolst, and Sally Everhardus. Winner of the People’s Choice Award was Leonard Quartetti for his winter landscape photo. Judges for the show were Lynn Gilchrist, David Frykman and Bren Sibilsky.

Free and open to the public, the exhibit will be on display at the museum until Dec. 28.

DCAL membership is available to all persons interested in promoting and enjoying the creative arts in Door County. For more information, visit http://www.doorcountyartleague.org.