The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas held an awards reception for local artists taking part in the 2025 Pine Bluff Art League Exhibition as the show opened Aug. 28 at ASC, part of the ARTx3 Campus.
These winning artists were m Best in Show: “Sunshine in My Pocket” by Nicholas Abernathy of North Little Rock, photograph.
First Place: “Top Gun” by Edie Totty of Fordyce, charcoal.
Second Place: “Mom’s Splendor” by Pamela Woolley of Rison, oil.
Third Place: “Big Boy 4014 in Motion” by Melissa Abernathy of Pine Bluff, photograph.
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The Inis Ray Award: “Orange Splendor” by Pamela Woolley of Rison, oil.
Honorable Mention: “Arkansas Post” by Gail Greenstreet of White Hall, watercolor.
Honorable Mention: “Paddleboarding The Falls” by Claudia Spainhour of Pine Bluff, acrylic.
Other league members represented in this show of 36 works are Vickie Coleman of Pine Bluff, Amanda Curry of White Hall, Elizabeth Goldthwait of Monticello, Dell Gorman of Pine Bluff, Jenny Holley of Sheridan, Permelia Huffman, Donna Kriner of Rison and Kay Reed of Sheridan.
Juror Monica “MoKasso” McGee presented the seven awards. McGee is a visual artist, mentor, speaker and facilitator based in central Arkansas. She owns a creative arts and media company through which she delivers workshops, public art projects, and original works that champion healing and forward momentum. McGee’s signature style — using vivid, high-contrast color palettes — features figures shown from behind, symbolizing progress and her guiding mantra, “Your best life is in front of you, don’t look back.”
The Arts & Science Center hosts the exhibition annually. It is sponsored by the Pine Bluff Sand & Gravel Co.
The exhibition is on view in the William H. Kennedy Jr. Gallery at the Arts & Science Center through Nov. 22. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Gallery admission is free.
Visit the exhibition’s page at artx3.org/exhibitions/2025-pine-bluff-art-league-exhibition. For more information, contact Shakeelah Rahmaan, interim curator and programs director, at srahmaan@artx3.org or call (870) 536-3375.
The Pine Bluff Art League hosts meetings from 2-4 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month at the Donald W. Reynolds Community Services Center, 211 W. Third Ave., Suite 225. The public is welcome to attend. For more information about the league, visit pbal.org or email mediapinebluffartleague@gmail.com.
