Virginia artist captures top prize at ArtFields

Noah Scalin of Richmond, Va. took home the $50,000 grand prize from the 10th annual ArtFields competition held April 22-30 in Lake City. Scalin won for his entry, titled “of America: September 4, 1957.” MyLoanh Dinh of Charlotte, N.C., won the second-place award of $25,000 for a work titled “Thanks. No Thanks.” Besides the first- and second-place prizes, two people’s choice and five merit prizes were given. The people’s choice awards were for $12,000 each and the merit awards were for $2,000 each. Melvin Toledo of Tucker, Ga., won People’s Choice 2-D for “A Moment of Peace,” and Jonathan Imafidor of Atlanta, Ga., won People’s Choice 3-D for “I Lay Out a Bait.” The merit award winners Hanna Banciella for “Let Me Go,” and Overstreet Ducasse for “Don’t Shoot Your Shot.” The week-long annual event regularly draws thousands of visitors and artists from across the Southeast. Artworks were featured in three galleries — Crossroads, Jones-Carter, and the Trax Visual Art Center, as well as other businesses and venues throughout town. A team of visual arts professionals reviewed and rated each piece, anonymously and individually. The top-rated artworks were then invited to be a part of the 2022 exhibition. It was announced at the event’s ribbon cutting that more than 400 pieces of art were included in this year’s competition. A jury panel seleced the Grand Prize, Second Place and Merit awards while those attending voted and determined the People’s Choice Award.