"Like many open and juried regional exhibitions, the work submitted reflected an electric cross-section of its community," Melissa Dorn, Wisconsin ArtsWest 46 juror, commented during this year's exhibition program.

Community members, artists, friends, and family all gathered together at 6pm on March 27 at the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library (400 Eau Claire St., Eau Claire) for the annual ArtsWest reception. In its 46th year, Wisconsin artists 18 years or older were encouraged to submit artwork across a variety of mediums. 235 artworks were submitted by 140 artists from 34 communities for ArtsWest 46.

Dorn, a Milwaukee-based artist, was selected as the juror for this year's exhibition. Her work — which includes sculpture, paintings, and illustrations — explores themes of industrialism, feminism, and labor. Often drawing inspiration from her personal history, Midwestern life, and everyday ephemera. From the initial submissions, Dorn curated a final selection of 39 works by 28 artists.

Since its inception, ArtsWest has provided a venue for hundreds of artists to exhibit their creativity, along with the opportunity for community members to engage and support the arts in a personal way, the program states.

You can see the exhibit in person at the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library until May 27 as well as online.

Best of Show - Ross Nordquist, Eau Claire | Hephaestus
First Prize - Janice Roberts, Eau Claire | The Local Store Deliveries
Second Prize - Gail Schellinger, Eau Claire | Madonna of The Warren
Third Prize - Maureen Skroski, Eau Claire | Nora’s World

Honorable Mentions
April Aken, Eau Claire | The Joynt
Dagmar Beckel Machyckova, Bloomer | When Men Speak
Gerlyn Brasic, Bangor | Coulee Winter
Ned Gannon, Eau Claire | Every Stranger, Stranger
Benjamin LeMay, Eau Claire | We Are All Human

Congratulations to all of the winning artists, and those who submitted their work this year!