For the first time in the 27-year history of the Biennial Drawing/Watercolor Illinois Exhibition held at the Tarble Arts Center, an Eastern alumna took home the Newton E. Tarble Memorial Best of Show Purchase Award.

The winner, Melinda McIntosh, who received her master’s in art from Eastern in 1996, was presented the honor Sunday for her Stones and Trees charcoal drawing.

“I think that was the most significant part of the evening,” said Michael Watts, Director of the Tarble Arts Center.

The exhibition was judged by John Brunetti, a Chicago art critic, curator and educator. A total of 267 pieces were entered by 108 artists.

The annual exhibition is open to artists living in Illinois whose work is done on paper and has been completed within the last two years. All of the work submitted is original, and includes traditional watercolors and drawings, as well as mixed-media works, abstractions, collages, and other styles.

Artists who enrolled their works in the exhibition come from areas near and far including Champaign, Effingham, Casey, and even some from Peoria and the Chicago suburbs, Watts said.

During the reception, a short ceremony was held to announce the awards and present the winners. Among the other winners of the evening was Akiko Matsouka-Thorson, who was awarded the Ronchetti Art Acquisition Fund Drawing Purchase Award. Both her piece and McIntosh’s piece will be added to the Tarble Arts Center’s permanent collection, Watts said.

The award sponsors included many local community members, the EIU Alumni Association, the Coles County Arts Council and the members of the Tarble Arts Center. The exhibition will be open to the public through Jan. 19, but will be closed Dec. 23 through Jan. 1 for the holidays.