ALIVE
JUNE 2026
BEST IN SHOW
NETTA GANOR
* FREEDOM IN THAILAND *
Oil
(by the courtesy of the Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists)
“Painting is where I find my independence. Without the use of my hands due to a physical disability, the brush in my mouth becomes an extension of myself, allowing me to transcend my physical confines. My paintings are rooted in realism, yet I use color, light and mood to carry emotion and meaning; images that are both true to life and personally interpretive. I'm drawn to painting my children growing up and the experiences of motherhood and living with a physical challenge. I often use bold, saturated hues to reflect an optimistic outlook and a belief in living fully despite limitations. Although I am especially drawn to figurative work, I also create still-lifes, landscapes and scenes of urban nature that help me study composition and atmosphere. Whether depicting human connection, natural surroundings or the quiet significance of objects, my goal is to create paintings that are faithful yet personal, challenging perceptions of disability and showing that life with limitations can be full, rich and meaningful.” — NETTA GANOR
DIAMOND AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
JOHN DIEPHOUSE
**RUBY ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2024**
**CRYSTAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2023**
* STEPPIN' OUT *
Photography
“I am a self-taught photographer and digital collage artist and am attracted to a wide variety of subjects ranging from natural landscapes, botanicals and wildlife to images that provide either abstract expression or social commentary. I am interested in sharing images that evoke a story of some kind. Images may be simply documentary, reflect a sense of time and place or resonate on a more abstract level of color, shape or form. Others provoke an indefinable question that does not readily yield answers without further study and reflection.” — JOHN DIEPHOUSE
GOLDEN TRIO AWARD
ANNITA APOSTOLIDOU PLATIS
**EMERALD ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2025**
* THE BUTTERFLY'S EYES *
* THE BEE'S DREAM * * THE SCARAB OF LIGHT *
Mixed media digital collage
“Rugs & Reverence is divided into two distinct "realms" and the submitted artworks belong to Creatures of Memory. Drawing inspiration from animals, insects and the decorative language of weaving traditions, I present living creatures as sacred symbols carrying instinct, resilience, beauty and spiritual presence. In The Bee's Dream, The Butterfly's Eyes and The Scarab of Light, bees, butterflies and scarabs become poetic embodiments of creation, metamorphosis, rebirth and continuity. Through layered compositions rich in ornament, textile symbolism and luminous detail, I seek to create contemplative spaces where the natural world is transformed into a language of remembrance, reverence and life itself.”
— ANNITA APOSTOLIDOU PLATIS
GOLDEN TRIO AWARD
JAY JOHANSEN
**SAPPHIRE ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2024**
* A SOFTNESS WITH BOUNDARIES *
* FRAGMENTS OF INNER FIRE * * CHARCOAL KISS, AMBER ANSWER *
Acrylic
“My art explores identity, emotion and legacy. Through portraits I capture not just likeness but essence, using bold palettes and textures to evoke nostalgia, intrigue and reflection inviting viewers to connect with deeper stories. Legacy, history & experience — that’s what makes the story telling, by way of oil & acrylic mediums — approachable, relevant & enduring.” — JAY JOHANSEN
RUBY AWARD
KATE GREENWAY
* DETENTE *
Magazine paper collage
“Through collage, monoprint and watercolour, I explore the quiet connections between animals, nature and human emotion. My work transforms ordinary and discarded materials into layered, expressive imagery filled with texture, colour and detail. In the magazine collage of the dog and cat, tiny fragments are assembled to capture curiosity, tension and companionship. I invite viewers to slow down, look closely and discover how small pieces and subtle details can create powerful, emotional presence.” — KATE GREENWAY
EMERALD AWARD
NETTA GANOR
* THREE HORSES *
Oil
(by the courtesy of the Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists)
INSTAGRAM
“Painting is where I find my independence. Without the use of my hands due to a physical disability, the brush in my mouth becomes an extension of myself, allowing me to transcend my physical confines. My paintings are rooted in realism, yet I use color, light and mood to carry emotion and meaning; images that are both true to life and personally interpretive. I'm drawn to painting my children growing up and the experiences of motherhood and living with a physical challenge. I often use bold, saturated hues to reflect an optimistic outlook and a belief in living fully despite limitations. Although I am especially drawn to figurative work, I also create still-lifes, landscapes and scenes of urban nature that help me study composition and atmosphere. Whether depicting human connection, natural surroundings or the quiet significance of objects, my goal is to create paintings that are faithful yet personal, challenging perceptions of disability and showing that life with limitations can be full, rich and meaningful.” — NETTA GANOR
SAPPHIRE AWARD
THERESA POALUCCI
* MAKING A SPLASH *
Mixed media digital on metal
“My work combines the desert lifestyle with a fascination for the future, especially the evolving technological world. I blend nature's wonder with digital tools — "painting with pixels" to capture and enhance my vision. My digital art process begins with crafting a composition, using my computer screen as a canvas. I combine photos and hand-drawn or painted elements into the piece. The result is an original artwork. I add art filters and then refine the colors to complete the composition. The final file is sent to a professional printer, who prints my art on acrylic.” — THERESA POALUCCI
CRYSTAL AWARD
(in random order)
AWARD OF MERIT
(in random order)
(in random order)
HONOURABLE MENTION
(in random order)
**WINNERS VIDEO**