SUN PHOTO BY LINDA HUGHES

Artist Lori Larson discusses her art with her children, Nick

and Bethany Larson, Thursday at the at the Visual Arts Center in Punta Gorda. The Student Exhibit was held Thursday evening at the center. Awards were given to winners of the
2D, 3D, jewelry and photography categories. Lori Larson was awarded third place in the 3D division for her entry Pop Out.

SUN PHOTO BY LINDA HUGHES

Instructor Kathy Bostwick congratulates her student Sylvia

Stattery on the watercolor she entered in the Visual Arts Center's Student Art Exhibition.

SUN PHOTO BY LINDA HUGHES

Student Art Exhibition attendee Colette Combs is served a

glass of wine by John Zack. Light refreshments were served during the event Thursday evening at the VAC in Punta Gorda.

SUN PHOTO BY LINDA HUGHES

Belinda Duclos, jewelry instructor at the Visual Arts Center,

proudly receives an award on behalf of her student Ellen DeVita, who placed first in the jewelry catagory during the Student Art Exhibition. The student art will be on display at the Center through Thursday. Board of directors member Amy Dwyer presented the awards during the ceremony held at the VAC in Punta Gorda on Thursday.

SUN PHOTO BY LINDA HUGHES

Judi Roth receives first place for her pottery "Red

Poppy from board member Amy Dwyer during the Student Art Exhibition at the Visual Arts Center Thursday evening. Having worked with pottery only three years, Judi says she has learned valuable methods from both Jack Vartanian and Howard Hartke, pottery instructors at the VAC.

SUN PHOTO BY LINDA HUGHES

Suzanne Kee receives her first-place award for 2D pastel

Silhouette of the Actor from board of directors member Amy Dwyer. Kee's instructor at the Visual Arts Center is Fran Hines.

SUN PHOTO BY LINDA HUGHES

Vickie Crosley admires a fellow artist's work. She says she has

lived in the area for 12 years and only recently discovered

the Visual Arts Center while entertaining a guest who was interested in seeing watercolor. Now Crosley is a new student at the VAC, taking a pottery class by instructor Jack Vartanian, one of two pottery teachers at the center.

SUN PHOTO BY LINDA HUGHES

Artist Beverly Yankwitt proudly hangs her award ribbon on her

work Out On A Limb. Her art instructor at the Visual Arts Center is Kathy Bostwick.

SUN PHOTO BY LINDA HUGHES

Newly installed president of the Visual Arts Center Thailia

St. Lewis points out one of many stunning pieces of art on display at the VAC during the Student Art Exhibition. The student art will be on display through Thursday. Many of the pieces are available for purchase. New classes at the Center, 210 Maud St. in Punta Gorda, will begin the week of Oct. 29.

SUN FILE PHOTO
Vickie Crosley admires an artist's work. She says she has

lived in the area for 12 years and only recently discovered

the Visual Arts Center while entertaining a guest who was interested in seeing watercolor. As a result, Crosley became a student at the VAC.