Mid-Atlantic Art News has the scoop on this year’s Trawick Prize winners. The annual award, produced by the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District and funded by long-time regional arts supporter Carol Trawick, is widely known as one of the area’s most highly regarded visual arts prizes. The winners list often comes with a little (sometimes well-founded) griping from the art community, but there’s no doubt that the winners earn some serious respect — as well as cash.

The winner of this year’s award, Jo Smail, was starting to become the Susan Lucci of the Trawick Prize. Nominated as a finalist for the past few years, the Baltimore artist finally took home Best of Show — a cool $10,000 — for her spilled ink-like paintings (pictured). Another Baltimore artist, Nicholas Wisniewski, came in second place for $2,000. Bruce Wilhelm took home the $1,000 third place prize for his strange scenes filled with subtle but amusing characters. Finally, Kathleen Shafer was named for the Young Artist Award for her photographs of drab technical and aeronautical landscapes.

All of the finalists will be in an exhibit that opens next Friday, September 14, at the Creative Partners Gallery in Bethesda.

Image from Jo Smail’s web site.