Fishers Municipal Center welcomed the Fishers Arts Council (FAC) into its bright, open gallery space for the sixth annual Juried Exhibit of Hamilton County Artists awards ceremony on Friday evening, Sept. 12.
As in the previous five years, Jiffy Lube of Indiana was the art competition’s title sponsor, and Jiffy Lube of Indiana District Manager John Rucker was present to welcome artists and guests. Noblesville Creates returned as the People’s Choice award sponsor, with their Artist Liaison, J.C. Seig presenting the award. Fifty-seven artists were selected for this year’s exhibit by the juror, Carl Schafer.
The “Best in Show” winner was Fishers resident Aparna Bhave for her mixed media work “A Dreamer.” She received an award of $1,000, a solo exhibit for 2026, and the following comment from the show’s judge, Carl Schafer:
“The person in this portrait seems to be in the process of deciding which dream she wants to choose, and the dream she chooses may change how she thinks about the world. She is a person in transition, and she is ambivalent about this moment of change in her life. The painting is very thoughtful and insightful.”
“A Dreamer” by Aparna Bhave, who won Best in Show. (Art provided)
Best in Show winner Aparna Bhave of Fishers (center) with Chris Hayes, Fishers Arts Council board president, and John Rucker, District Manager for Jiffy Lube of Indiana, the Title Sponsor of the exhibit. (Photo provided by Fishers Arts Council)
Other awards include:
- Best Landscape, sponsored by Wasson Nursery, was awarded to Amy Ruddy of Westfield for “Chasing the Sun.”
- Casey Williams of McCordsville won Best Portrait/Figurative for “Into the Light.”
- Another McCordsville artist, Eileen Allen, received Best Floral/Other, sponsored by Renewal by Andersen, for her waxed transparent watercolor painting, “Ode to Sweden.”
- “Daylight,” made with acrylic paint and sewn thread by Liz Hamstra of Fishers, won Best Abstract.
- A new award was introduced this year, Best 3D, sponsored by Noblesville Creates. The winner of this brand-new award was Victoria Winemiller of Fishers for her sculpted work, “Metalnoma.”
Each of these artists received $600. All winners were selected by juror Carl Schafer of Muncie.
The addition of 3D works was made possible by a partnership between FAC and the Fishers Art Center, located on the east side of the Fishers Municipal Center. The Fishers Art Center is operated in partnership between the City of Fishers and Indy Art Center, located in Broad Ripple. Vice President of Events and Exhibitions for Indy Art Center, Shannon Bennett, was instrumental in this partnership.
“Thanks to Shannon, the Fishers Art Center was able to give us access to their gallery space for our juried exhibit which allowed us to showcase 3D works in a safe, museum-style gallery,” FAC Executive Director Les Reinhardt said. “It’s a truly beautiful display opportunity for these artists and we’re so thankful for Indy Art Center Exhibition Manager, Alex Moore, and his expertise during the installation in their gallery.”
The Fishers Art Center also allowed FAC to display 3D and 2D works during the annual High School Senior Showcase in their gallery spaces earlier this year, with Moore and his Exhibitions Associate, Marina Garrison, assisting with installation.
There was also stiff competition for the Noblesville Creates People’s Choice award, with patrons voting on Facebook and in-person in the gallery. The winner was Fishers resident Asma Siddiqui with her textured acrylic and mixed media creation, “The Ocean’s Breath.” It received the most overall votes, both online and in-person and a $250 cash prize.
“The Ocean’s Breath” by Asma Siddiqui, this year’s People’s Choice winner. (Art provided)
Almost all of these award-winning paintings are for sale, as are most of the other equally amazing works in the gallery through Sept. 27. FAC hopes that many Hamilton County residents, and others, will visit the Art Gallery at City Hall in the Fishers Municipal Center and experience the art and enjoy the work of many talented people in our area.
Guests can visit the gallery in person at 1 Municipal Drive from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and on Saturdays during the Fishers Farmers’ Market from 10 a.m. to noon. You can also see the juried exhibit in the online Facebook gallery at Facebook.com/FishersArt.