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The East Central Regional Arts Council (ECRAC) is proud to honor the award winners of the 37th annual IMAGE Art Show.

The IMAGE Art Show is an annual event open to any artist residing in Region 7E (the MN counties of Chisago, Kanabec, Isanti, Mille Lacs, and Pine.) The Art Show and the awards honor some of the finest art in the area. A total of 125 artists from the East Central Minnesota region exhibited in this year’s IMAGE Art Show at the Grand Events Center in Mora, December 6, 7 and 8.

Judges Amy Varsek of Duluth and Heidi Jeub of Shoreview chose Best of Show, Artistic Excellence Award, and Artistic Merit Awards. Viewers of the show vote for their favorite for the People’s Choice Award, as well as the ECRAC Board of Director’s Purchase Award to add to the organization's permanent collection. The winners, and their county of residence, are as follows:

Best of Show

Caroline Bersin, Pine and Jim Larson, Mille Lacs

Awards of Artistic Excellence

B.T. Johnson, Isanti, Sue Redfeild, Isanti, Dell Gross, Pine, Carolyn Cagle, Chisago Janis Dehler, Isanti, Mary Ann Cleary, Isanti, Bobby Olson, Pine, Greg Just, Isanti, David Spohn, Chisago, Amanda Dorholt, Isanti

Awards of Artistic Merit

Lisa Young, Isanti, Merlyn Zortman, Isanti, Robert Des Jarlait, Mille Lacs, Jean Crocker, Isanti, Melinda Cloose, Kanabec, Bruce Thompson, Kanabec, Gary Carlson, Chisago, Rhonda Felland, Kanabec, Dee Ann Sibley, Isanti, RETECH, Mille Lacs

People’s Choice

Thad Christiansen, Isanti

Purchase Award

Nathan Hager, Isanti

This art exhibition was made possible by The McKnight Foundation and also by the voters of Minnesota thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Legacy Fund. Thanks also to all that came to support the artists and their work at the 37th Annual IMAGE Art Show.

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