In March 2024, I announced the arrival of the Artists’ Guild of Valparaiso as a new non-profit art gallery and exhibition space located in the downtown Valparaiso complex at 257 Indiana Ave., just a stone’s throw from the courthouse square.
Created with the mission statement “to build a collection of artists who support each other to nurture visual artists, promote their work, and to expose them to the public, collectors, media, and cultural institutions,” two years seem to have flown by since I was asked to be the judge of their inaugural exhibit.
Nearly two years later, I had the honor of a return invite once again adorned with a judge ribbon on my lapel for last weekend’s opening exhibit of 2026.
Peter Steeves, a self-taught artist with a career that has spanned years exhibiting throughout the Chicagoland area, serves as president and nurse researcher Beth Vottero is treasurer, with arts advocate Joanne Urschel as vice president and media socialite Colleen Zana handling day-to-day duties as gallery manager.
With always free admission, the organization’s first opening reception two years ago showcased the work of more than 25 artists. Last weekend, the number of entrants was delightfully doubled with artistic works competing in every medium imaginable, from oil, photography and fabrics to drawings, abstracts and custom-sewn fashion pieces.
As for the weekend’s winners, whose works are on display in the exhibit through March 19, in the Next Gen Artists category designed to celebrate the works of younger artists, 9-year-old Bradley Kurek won third place with his painting “Wonder Woman,” 13-year-old Ava Johnson won second place with “Driver’s License” on acrylic, and 6-year-old Josie Smith won first place with her cozy 8-inch-by-8 inch “X Ray Cat,” also featured on acrylic.
Taking home honorable mention honors were Dina Hejiselaar with her 16-inch-by-20-inch photo “Ice Beasts,” Deb Shaffer with her repurposed jacket fabric art titled and themed for art icon “Van Gogh,” Steve Bensing with his photo “Pasadena Roses,” and Marcia Petrick with her 48-inch-by-36-inch “Dance Lucy Dance” on acrylic, the latter which represents (according to the pin card) “bioluminescence found in several species of deep sea micro plankton which even in the absence of light produce beautiful colors when the enzyme luciferase acts upon the substrate luciferin capturing the dancing organisms as they float with the water currents and appear to perform a colorful dance.”
The exhibition’s top awarded distinctions went to Larry Brown winning a third place ribbon with his 23.5-inch-by-19.5-inch photo showcasing “Speed On The Ice,” Colleen Zana winning second place with her 16-inch-by-20-inch photo on metal “The Zana’s At Sunset,” and Deb Shaffer bestowed a first place blue ribbon with her fiber art of cottony sheep, clouds and grazing fields as depicted in “Ewe Are Home.”
The “Best in Show” top honors ribbon was awarded to Bob Borowski and his expansive, 48-inch-by-60-inch “Give Receive” on acrylic.
AGV Membership costs $36 for the entire year with renewal annually, but if joining after January, the membership is prorated to the end of the year. This allows the members to submit entries in the 257 Wing of the gallery with a limit of three pieces per month, any of which cannot have been entered into a previous AGV member show. Entries in the Gallery 255 space are limited to one piece per show and cannot have been entered into a previous AGV member show.
Artwork must be original from a signed artist, framed properly, gallery-wrapped canvases without exposed staples and with finished edges, all as acceptable. The artwork must be wired and ready for hanging with the center of the hanging wire at least 1 1/2 inches from the top of the piece. Sawtooth hangers are not allowed. PThe paintingand frame must be dry. Maximum overall width should not exceed 48 inches. If these criteria are not met, the artwork may be rejected until corrected by the artist.
For Gallery 255 submissions, it is $20 per piece with a 30% commission to the gallery should the artist choose to sell the piece. For the 257 Wing, it is $10 per piece with a 15% commission to the gallery should the artist opt to sell the work. The Artists’ Guild of Valparaiso is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, visit www.agofvalpo.com.
Philip Potempa is a journalist, published author and weekly radio host on WJOB 1230 AM. He can be reached at philpotempa@gmail.com.
