ELKHART -- The Midwest Museum of American Art in Elkhart announced the winners of the 31st Elkhart Juried Regional exhibition at a reception Friday night.

The regional competition constitutes a major survey of current trends by artists living in 18 northern Indiana counties and three southern Michigan counties. This year 269 artists submitted 474 works in all media for the judges' consideration. An exhibition of 163 of those works of art by 123 artists opened Friday and will continue through Jan. 3.

Best of show for 2009 went to Granger artist Dora Natella for her bronze sculpture "Gaia."

Awards presented to the artists totaled $29,100, making the Elkhart Juried Regional the largest cash awards show in the state according to a press release from the MMAA. Judging this year's competition were Jan Cicero, an art dealer from Chicago, and Sam Knecht, a figurative painter and chairman of the art department at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan.

The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for senior citizens, $2 for college students and $1 for students 5 to 18 years. Family admission for groups of three or more is $7. Sunday is free, family day.

2009 ELKHART JURIED REGIONAL WINNERS

Best painting — “Shell in the Box,” oil on canvas by Anthony Droege, Granger Best ceramic — “Bottle” and “Jar, “ two works in stoneware by Gundega Penikis, South Bend Best fiber — “Three Circles,” quilted fiber by Ellen Stuckey, Auburn Best photography — “Car No. 15,” black and white photography, by Bryan Palmer, Elkhart Best sculpture — “Vase I” and “Vase II,” Norfolk Isle Pine by John Hoinville, Niles, Mich. Best drawing — “House by the Lake,” pastel by Ron Monsma, South Bend

Merit award for sculpture — “Sculptural Vessel I” and “Sculptural Vessel II,” wood-fired stoneware by Bill Kremer, Edwardsburg, Mich. Merit award for painting — “Muppet Baseball,” oil on panel by Joel Ottman, Mishawaka

Mary Feddersen Memorial Purchase Award The selected work becomes property of the Midwest Museum of American Art “Love Creek,” digital color photography mounted on wood armature by Roderick Liechty, Elkhart

$900 Purchase Awards “#30,” acrylic and guilding on paper by Bob Cross, Elkhart “At Rest,” oil on canvas by Louise Neathery, Elkhart “Fall Still Life,” oil on canvas by Anthony Droege, Granger “Winter Landscape,” copper and acrylic by Brooke Marks Swanson, South Bend “Oceanscape,” stainless steel by John Mishler, Goshen “Common Crow Vessel,” stoneware by Cynthia Marks, Elkhart “Norfolk Isle Pine Vase I,” turned wood vessel by John Hoinville, Niles, Mich. “Norfolk Isle Pine Vase II,” turned wood vessel by John Hoinville, Niles, Mich. “Connect I,” oil on canvas by Janet Beckman, South Bend “Friday at Pete’s,” oil on canvas by Garret Hamm, Chesterton “Drewey’s Brewery,” oil on canvas by Joseph Ruthrauff, South Bend “Wandering II,” oil on canvas by Austin Cartwright, Fort Wayne “Sculptural Vessel I,” wood-fired stoneware by Bill Kremer, Edwardsburg, MIch. “Aerial Composition,” copper and acrylic triptych by Brooke Marks Swanson, South Bend “Silver Screen Melancholy,” ink and oil on panel by Jason Cytacki, South Bend “Sculptural Vessel II,” wood-fired stoneware by Bill Kremer, Edwardsburg, Mich. “The Heavens Declare,” paper collage triptych by Susan Lehman, Elkhart

$700 Purchase Awards “Danielle,” terra cotta by Deborah Robinson Miller, Columbia City “Hapchang,” monotype and handmade paper by Ellen Ridenour, Elkhart “Chain Lake Lily Pad,” oil on canvas by Tim Grieb, Cassopolis, Mich. “There Will Be a Short Intermission Between Reels,” oil on canvas by Brooks Cashbaugh, Elkhart “Sylvan Heart,” mixed media by Ann Hamilton, South Bend “Split Vase with Fruit,” oil on canvas by Frances Cox, Michiana Shores “Untitled Landscape,” oil on canvas by Stephen Verace, Goshen “Autumn Blaze,” color photography by Michelle Herrli, South Bend

$500 Purchase Awards “Interaction,” wood by Robert Kuntz, South Bend “Cascade,” side-fired stoneware by Dick Lehman, Goshen “Relief Torso II,” carved oak by Michael Slaski, Cassopolis, Mich. “Kleé on Clay,” stoneware by Cynthia Marks, Elkhart “Big Walls III,” ceramic by Elizabeth Wamsley, Syracuse “A Bit of Michigan,” pastel by Diana Fair, Fort Wayne “In the Greenhouse,”acrylic by Joyce Rebora, Cassopolis, Mich. “Barn at Mongo,” oil on canvas by Tom Kelly, Fort Wayne “Soybeans at Sunset,” pastel by Mona Witt, Granger “Orchid Fantasy IV,” oil on canvas by Marilyn Kruger, Akron