Several Utah wildfowl carvers have been winning top awards in recent shows and festivals. In the Mid-Atlantic Wildfowl Festival, Greg Woodard of Brigham City won first in show, birds of prey category, for a prarie falcon. In the California Open, he won first place in the raptors division and best of show for a prarie falcon in the decorative life-size non-floating open. And when he competed in the Ward World Championship's World Level, he walked off with first place and a purchase award of $20,000 for a female kestrel in the decorative life-size wildfowl category; and second place and honorable mention in the birds-of-prey category. In the Masters Carving Competition, he won best of show in the decorative birds category for a red-tailed hawk, capturing the $1,000 Carvers' Choice Award sponsored by Wildfowl Carving & Collecting Magazine; and first and second place in the birds-of-prey division.
Also in the California Open, Ernie Ward of Salt Lake City won first, second and third places in the decorative life-size floating intermediate's miscellaneous diver division for a king eider, a speckled eider and a harlequin; and second place in the best diver and third place in best of show in that division.Maynard Sorenson of Salt Lake City won first place for his sculpture of a great blue heron in the aquatic division of the decorative life-size non-floating open of the California Open.
- This month's gallery stroll is set for Friday, March 19. The 14 galleries participating this time are: Art Access, D'Elegance International, Dolores Chase, Marble House, Phillips, Repartee, Southam, Tivoli, Urban Arts, Utah Designer Crafts and William Fine Arts; also Gallery 56, ArtSpace Artists Association and LeftBank Artists Co-op. They will be open from 6-9 p.m. Maps for the stroll are available at all participating galleries. For details, call 328-9848.
- Park City's Saguaro Gallery and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Utah will be presenting the 2nd Annual Artists of Utah Sale and Show beginning Friday, March 19. This year, 40 of Utah's finest painters and sculptors will be participating. These artists have agreed to donate between 5% and 10% of gross sales to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Utah. Jessica Frischknecht, this year's Make-A-Wish child, will exhibit her work at the show. The exhibit continues through March 27. A reception for the artists has been planned for March 19 from 6-10 p.m. Saguaro Gallery is located at 314 Main Street, Park City.
- The Third Annual Art Auction, co-sponsored by the Salt Lake Gallery Association and the Zonta Clubs of Utah, will take place on Saturday, March 27 at Tivoli Art Gallery, 255 South State Street. Works by Utah artists will be spotlighted. The preview is set for 6 p.m. and the program at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 each. Make checks payable to The Rape Crisis Center, 2035 S. 1300 East, SLC, UT 84105. For more information, call 467-7279.
- For 13 years, the annual St. George Art Festival has attracted top artists from the Western states. This year, over 200 artists have applied to show their works on April 9 and 10. Only 100 will be selected.
Festival director Kent Perkins says each year the quality of artwork improves. "It's becoming more and more difficult to select artists and categories," he said.
Besides the wide selection of quality art, the festival features entertainment, wandering minstrels and ethnic food booths. For details, call 634-5850.
- Kristine Spindler-Gunnell of Logan has been selected to participate in the 7th Annual Women in the Visual Arts Exhibition at Erector Square Gallery, New Haven, Conn. The exhibit is currently on display and will continue through March 26.
- Lectures, workshops, classes and meetings*:
Tuesday, March 16 (Kimball Art Center, Park City) - Spring classes begin at KAC. Diane Balaban will teach oil painting on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Two classes will be taught Tuesday evenings, 7-10 p.m.: Clay sculpture with Judy Summer and fused stained glass with Alicia Larsen.
On Wednesday evenings, 7-10 p.m., Advanced Ceramics with Bruce Larrabee and Beginning Photography with David Whitten. Other classes have been scheduled for April and May. For information and registration, call 649-8882.
* Events are free unless noted otherwise.
By Richard P. Christenson