Why Not Niwot? Juried Art Show awards ceremony Sept. 6

The Niwot Cultural Arts Association's (NCAA) annual Why Not Niwot? Juried Art Show will present awards at the First Friday Art Walk on Friday, Sept. 6, at Osmosis Gallery, 290 Second Avenue, in Niwot, with an artist's reception following at the former Feed Store across the street.

Osmosis Gallery has sponsored the NCAA event since its inception 12 years ago, the brainchild of Osmosis owner Anne Postle. The three judges who make up the jury have selected a first, second and third-place winner from over 40 artist entries, and cash prizes of $500, $250 and $100, respectively, will be awarded.

In addition to the jury's awards, a People's Choice Award will also be announced, based on voting from patrons who visited all of the businesses who displayed the artwork and entered their stamped passport ballots in a drawing for a print of the winning art.

Participating businesses included Wise Buys Antiques, Niwot Market, Pebble Art Jewelry, Niwot Wheel Works, Fly Away Home Decor, The Old Oak Coffeehouse, Niwot Inn & Spa, Niwot Jewelry & Gifts, Few of a Kind, Osmosis Gallery, and Inkberry Books.

All artwork must feature some connection to Niwot, so the art is very locally oriented, often with familiar scenes presented in a unique way.

The festivities open at 5:45 p.m. with the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band on hand to perform "art-centered" music, including Modest Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" as well as familiar "color" tunes, such as "Blue Skies" arranged by the band's own Bob Stadtherr, "Mellow Yellow" and "A Whiter Shade of Pale."

Following the awards announcements at 6:15 p.m., an artist's reception will offer patrons an opportunity to view all of the art entered in the contest, as well as meet many of the artists. The art is for sale to patrons, and wine with the award-winning art on the label will be available, as well as cards printed with the winning artwork.

The event is funded in part by the Niwot Local Improvement District, and all proceeds go towards the NCAA's maintenance costs of the Niwot Children's Park and Whistle Stop Park.