Plaquemine Bank Art Alert Art Show April 18

Plaquemine Bank and Trust Company will host the 25th Annual Art Alert Art Show Wednesday, April 18, and has issued its “Calling for Artists”.  

The Art Alert Art Show is open to all natives and residents of Iberville and West Baton Rouge Parishes.  The art show is open to children under 10 years of age; children 10 - 13 years of age; young adults 14 - 18 years of age; and adults 18+ (including both professional and non-professional artists.)  Each artist in the adult category may enter a maximum of two pieces, which have not been previously entered in this contest, in any two dimensional format.  Artists under 18 years of age may enter only one piece that has not been previously entered in this contest.

First, second and third place prizes of $75, $50 and $25 respectively, will be awarded in each category.  Those receiving honorable mentions will be awarded $15.  Every entrant who attends will receive a special paint brush.

Stephen Panepinto, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Plaquemine Bank said, “For 25 years Plaquemine Bank and Trust has been hosting the Art Alert Art Show.  We are proud to continue this tradition which appreciates the arts and recognizes the talent in our area.”  He continued, “We are excited to announce that our show jurors will be Judi Betts and Betsy Neely.  Both talented women have been jurors for our shows in the past and we specifically requested they join us for our 25th Art Show.”  

Dale Plauche, Executive Vice President added, “As always, we look forward to receiving the Art Alert Art Show entries.  Last year my wife and I purchased one of Betsy Neely’s pieces that was on display, so I personally always look forward to the art gracing our lobby. This is a great opportunity for us to meet with our neighbors, customers and friends as they visit our Bank to enjoy the arts.”

Art entries may be delivered to Plaquemine Bank from April 2 - 17, 2012.  

Plaquemine Bank will host a reception in the lobby to recognize all participating artists. This reception will be open to the public.  The celebration will begin at 4 p.m. April 18.  The show's two jurors will be Judi Betts and Betsy Neely.  

Betsy Neely is a professional artist from Baton Rouge, and a graduate of Louisiana State University.  She began her career as a high school art teacher, then moved into advertising with Goudchaux’s/Maison Blanche Department Store.  For the last 20 years, Neely has worked at LSU AgCenter where she is on the communications faculty.  She designs and illustrates publications, posters and exhibits, and helps coordinate special events, for 4-H, extension and research faculty throughout the state.

               Neely enjoys painting in watercolor, acrylic and oil, and participates regularly in juried shows. She also does commission work, plus freelance design and illustrations to include clients at LSU Press and the FACES lab. Betsy paints with her sisters in a group called Sister Studio, and teaches privately in her home. She is a member of the Louisiana Watercolor Society, Gamma Sigma Delta, and the Association for Communication Excellence.

          Judi Betts resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and is a highly respected, internationally recognized painter, instructor, juror and author of two award-winning books, Watercolor…Let’s Think About It!, now in its 5th printing, and her latest, co-authored book, Painting…a Quest toward Xtraord!nary which earned 5 major awards.  She also created the popular Color-Sketch.

    Numerous articles featuring her paintings have appeared in national and international magazines. 

    Wine labels by Judi have won top honors in five international label competitions.  These labels are on Martz Vineyards Estate Bottled wines.  (California). 

    Posters by Judi appeared on several TV series including Mad TV, Touched by an Angel, Seinfeld, Spin City and Fear Factor. 

    She has taught in the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Sweden, Norway, Italy, England and Japan, to name a few countries.

          Betts has received numerous awards including the Governor’s Award for 2000 which is the State of Louisiana’s most prestigious award honoring a professional artist’s.  She also received the Mayor President’s 1997 Award for Excellence in the Arts.  In 2008, Betts was selected to participate in the 1st Invitational Exhibition of Contemporary International Watermedia Masters, sponsored by the Jiangsu Watercolor Research Institute.  The exhibit was held in Nanjing, China and featured 68 artists from around the world, including 28 from North America.  In June 2012 at the Springfield Museum, she will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from Watercolor USA Honor Society.  Judi Betts serves as a guest artist at LSU School of Interior Design and the School of Visual Arts in New York City.   In June, she will teach at Matanuska-Susitna College near Anchorage, Alaska and be the featured artist at the Machetanz Festival.  Her painting of two mules “Coalie and Jake” was purchased by the Springfield Art Museum in Springfield, Missouri.  Betts’ painting of goats named “Little Billy” earned the Fujiko Fukuhara Memorial Award during the National Watercolor Society 91st Annual Exhibition, held in San Pedro, California.