The Carriage Art Show, hosted at the Gene Bianchi Community Center in Oakdale, featured the work of artists involved in the Valley Art Association, which draws members from Oakdale, Riverbank, Escalon and beyond.

The art show was hosted on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 17 and 18, put on by the City of Oakdale, the Valley Art Association and the Oakdale Tourism and Visitor’s Bureau.

Top awards were presented to: Zebra Fans by Andrea Morris, Best of Show; Going Home by Janet Powell McKee, Carriage Painting Award; Kate and Wishbone by Andrea Morris, Western Award; Hootchie Punk by Marilyn Zinner, Mayor’s Award.

“We’ve grown in the last year,” said Valley Art Association member and show co-chair Vonnie Muniain, with over 150 entries this year. “It feels pretty awesome.”

Association members say they also want to get more young people involved in the art group. They have provided a scholarship to a young artist, Roger Aguayo, who is currently attending Modesto Junior College.

Accepted entries were on display in the Bianchi Community Center on both Saturday and Sunday, with a Sunday afternoon reception with the artists featured as part of the awards ceremony.

First place honors in each of the classes are as follows, with information provided by the Valley Art Association.

Oli and Acrylic – Street Musicians by Eliseo Contreras; Watermedia – Coe Park by Barbara Conley; Soft Pastel – Tides Out by Joan Cardoza; Graphics – My Father by Roger Aguayo; Mixed Media – Fuschia by Brandi McGraph; Photography – Rock Evolution by Bill Calvin; Fiber Art – Echoes by Chelsea Flemming; Sculptures – Edward by Vonnie Muniain. Several categories also included second and third place honors as well as honorable mention and many of the entries were also for sale by the artists.