The Art Gallery of Bancroft had an opening reception for it's annual Juried Exhibition on April 30.

Allan O'Marra, who is a Domeville native, but grew up in Bancroft, was the juror for the event.

His expertise in art and design has led him in many directions throughout his life, but he always managed to maintain a career in art and now works full-time as a fine artist and psychotherapist in Ajax, Ontario.

There are eight categories that artists entered their work in, and of all the submitted work, only 51 pieces were put on display.

The winner of the David B. Milne award is David Parson for his oil painting, "Temagami". Which also won the Bancroft Times Award for Best Oil and his piece, "I, Otter" won the Dr. Zeya Alikhan Award for Best Psstel.

O'Marra described the winning piece as vertically daring and said, "The choice of the portrait of the tree being cropped into such an extreme shape, cleverly enhances the concept; and the breaking of it into a diptych is the aspect of it that moves it beyond its genre."

Richard Capener won the Ink and Things Award for Best Acrylic with his piece, "Caught Between Earth & Sky." Which O'Marra described as "a wonderful engagement on numerous levels."

Barbara Brintnell won the Greg Latremollie Award for Best Watercolour with her "Plein Air Painters."

"The approach is fresh and spontaneous-looking, watercolour painting at its loosest best," said O'Marra.

She was also awarded the Bancroft Bed & Breakfast Award for Best Two-Dimensional Mixed Media or Original Print for her piece, "Magic Dragon".

The John Keith Award for Best Drawing went to Gerald Humen for his piece entitled "Untitled #1."

O'Marra explained that he chose this piece for its brave, simple interpretation of place and time.

Arne Roosman received the Brown Hair Design Studio Award for Best Sculpture for his piece "Calypso."

O'Marra said that the piece simultaneously "menaces and captivates."

He also won the Victoria Wines Award for Best Non-Traditional with his "Homage to Marcel Duchamp" piece, which O'Marra called "A fun and cheeky marriage of materials, but a clever nod to art history."

Ada Tinney won the Tim Horton's Award for Best Stained Glass for her piece "Mother Earth," which O'Marra called elegant and dimensional.

The annual Juried Exhibition is on at the Art Gallery of Bancroft until May 30, and is being sponsored by Bancroft Motors.