The winners of the Tarble Art Center’s 20th Biennial Drawing/Watercolor: Illinois Exhibition have been announced, with an Urbana resident taking best in show.

Judy Jones, Urbana, received the Newton E. Tarble Memorial Best-of-Show Purchase Award. The winners were announced on Oct. 26.

Jones’s piece, a mixed-media artwork titled “Mixed Message,” gives her the top award from the Tarble’s Biennial Exhibition for the second year.

Michael Watts, the director of the Tarble, said as a purchase award, Jones’ artwork will be added to the Tarble’s permanent collection.

Donald K. Lake, from Mahomet, received the Ronchetti Art Acquisition Purchase Award. His piece, a watercolor titled “Alumafandango—Lakeside Park,” will also be added to the Tarble’s permanent collection.

Ann McDowell, of Champaign, won the Barbara Bishop Werden Memorial Best Traditional Watercolor Merit Award. She won for her painting titled “Meadowbrook Reflections.”

The competitive biennial exhibition is open to Illinois artists working in drawing media, water-based painting media, mixed media or collage on paper or synthetic paper. The 20th Biennial Exhibition is on view through Jan. 11 at the Tarble.

Sarah Capps, of Belle Rive, won the Coles County Arts Council Merit Award for “Eat the American Dream.”

Bonnie Switzer, of Urbana, won the EIU Alumni Association Merit Award for “Mood Indigo.”

Jenny Barrett, of Champaign, won Roc’s Blackfront Merit Award for her piece, “Galway Bay.”

The What’s Cookin’ Merit Award went to Jack Ryan, of Peoria. He won for his piece “Gibson City Elevator.”

The Tarble Arts Center Endowment Merit Award went to Sandra Kahl, of Thompsonville, for the piece “Pasta Chaos.”

The Tarble Arts Center Membership Merit Award went to Jeff Little, of Bloomington, for his piece “Controlled Burn—Parklands.”

Watts said the juror for the 20th Drawing/Watercolor: Illinois Biennial was Chicago-area artist William Conger.

Watts said Conger’s paintings have appeared in numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout the country, including a major retrospective exhibition at the Chicago Cultural Center. His work has also been reviewed in Art in America, ArtNews, Artforum and other publications.

Watts said as juror Conger selected the art for the exhibition and designated the award winners. A total of 52 artists from around the state submitted 121 works for the exhibition.

Conger selected 43 works by 30 artists to make up the exhibition.

Also represented in the exhibition were Jeff Boshart, of Charleston, Barbara Brummer, of Mason, William Butler, of Peoria, Sharon Davie-Barrett, of Rantoul, Christine Detwiler, of Effingham, Herb Eaton, of Bloomington, Walter A. Fydryck, of Chicago, Sarah Gillespie, of Newton, Fred H. Hentchel, of Chillicothe, Sandra Hynds, of Macomb, Jan Kappes, of Arcola, Brianna Kastelein, of Highland, Janet Keturi, of Chillicothe, Douglas Levi, of Springfield, Casey Lowry, of Urbana, Robert Newcome, of Bethany, Matthew Pacunas, of Rantoul, C. Maura Poshka, of Paxton, Todd Snyder, of East Peoria and Barbara Unes, of Dunlap.

Admission to the exhibition is free of charge.

The staff of The Daily Eastern News can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].