Stillwater Artist Wins First Place in Art Exhibition

A Stillwater artist took home first place in the Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition for her oil painting titled, "Shipyard."

Mary Jo Van Dell has been a "contemporary landscape" oil painter in the Stillwater area for several years. According to her website, she draws inspiration from "woods, lakes, prairies, coasts and wilderness areas." 

"This piece was inspired by a visit into the shipyard or docking area where the huge ore boats load and unload cargo. All that strength and bigness and metal. I was awed, which is usually an emotion I feel prior to any  piece that I decide to do," Van Dell said. 

A few years ago, Van Dell was awarded the Minnesota Citizens for the Arts award at the State Fair for a large painting she did, titled, "Steel Cascade." 

"This isn't my first award, but it's the first big one for me because it's the biggest juried art show in Minnesota," Van Dell said. 

Representing Stillwater with a mixture of different mediums are the following artists: David Parker in Photography, Leah Peterson in Painting, Joseph Samuelson in Ceramics, Barb Schmotter in Drawing, and Van Dell's oil painting, “Shipyard."

Representing Marine on St. Croix are the following two artists: Tom Maakestad in Oil Painting and David Morris whose Photography piece received Honorable Mention from the Minnesota State Fair judges.

The pieces are on display in the Fine Arts Center at the State Fairgrounds, open every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Sept. 2. 

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