The Carmel International Arts Festival has announced winners from this fall’s competition. There were 148 entries from Carmel High School (CHS) and University High School (UHS), which is an increase from 100 last year and from 66 in 2021.
In total, $16,700 in scholarships were awarded. CIAF funded nine scholarships totaling $14,500; Carmel Arts Council funded two awards of $100 each ($200 total); and Indiana Artisans funded four “People’s Choice” awards at $500 each ($2,000 total).
Scholarships awarded include the following:
CIAF Scholarships (Judge Juror Professor Vance Farrow, Herron Art School)
- “Rosemary Waters Excellence in Arts” ($2,500) was Alex Altenburg (UHS) – mixed media sculpture of baked clay and wire
- “Best of Show” was Ava Galante (CHS) – colored pencil “Street Scene”
- Ella Lipnik (CHS) – pastel “Women in Blue”
- Isabel Lopez (CHS) – acrylic “Ukemoohi’s Lunch”
- Abby Vance (CHS) – colored pencil “Under the Sea”
“Innovation in the Arts” ($1,500 each)
- Lexi Bunting (CHS) – mixed media (embroidery and photo)
- Emily Comparini (UHS) – paper sculpture “Dragon”
- Erika Lawrence (CHS) – copper and resin “Bubbles Treading Water”
- and Kate Sampson (UHS) – digital illustration “Mind’s Eye”
Carmel Arts Council Awards (Judge Joyce Burrell)
- Alex Altenburg (UHS) – posca pens “Girl on Bridge”
- Olivia Wright (CHS) – charcoal “Falcon”
Indiana Artisan People’s Choice – (over 1,300 votes were cast by festival goers visiting the gallery)
- Aubrey Halbig (CHS) – colored pencil “Girls Braiding Hair”
- Oliver Jackson (Univ HS) – photo “Bridge”
- Kate Sampson (Univ HS) – oil on canvas “Lake Scene”
- Olivia Wright (CHS) – charcoal “Falcon”
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CIAF also announced the winners in this year’s competition of juried artists. The September festival featured competitors in nine different media. The winners are as follows:
- Best of Show: Laura Gutzwiller – Fiber
- 1st Place: Carrie Baxter – 2D
- 2nd Place: Charlene Marsh – Painting
- 3rd Place: Douglas Becker – Glass
- Mayor’s Choice: Zhen Zhong Duan – Painting
Ceramics
- Tanya Leslie – Best in Medium
- Brian Moore – Honorable Mention
2D
- Joel Fremion – Best in Medium
- Ila Catherine Hofacker – Honorable Mention
Painting
- Randall Scott Harden – Best in Medium
- Heather Miles – Honorable Mention
Wood
- Nadia Ogle – Best in Medium
- Mark Hilligoss – Honorable Mention
Photography
- Kyle Spears – Best in Medium
- Kate Tillman – Honorable Mention
Fiber
- Shawn Thomas – Best in Medium
- Kent Epler – Honorable Mention
3D
- Scott Maya – Best in Medium
- Ryan Slattery – Honorable Mention
Glass
- James Wilbat – Best in Medium
- Angelo Fico – Honorable Mention
Jewelry
- Robert Nilsson – Best in Medium
- Ray and Amy Bridewell – Honorable Mention
See more pictures of the 2023 Festival and winners on the CIAF Facebook page.
About CIAF
The Carmel International Arts Festival brings more than 30,000 people to Carmel each year for this two–day event. Around 120 amazingly talented artists bring their talent to the streets of Carmel. The student art is a large part of the festival. CIAF is grateful to Indiana Artisan Gallery on Range Line Road for providing a location to highlight the student art. Learn more about the Indiana Artisan Gallery at indianaartisan.org. Next year’s festival will take place on Sept. 28 and 29.