The Emporia Arts Center hosted its Annual Veterans Exhibition artist reception in the Trusler Gallery on Friday.
Three community members were honored with the top prizes while one was chosen as the people’s choice awardee. Those honored include Paul Johnson in third place, Doug Crockett in second place and Michael Kohler in first place. Steve Barnard was voted the people’s choice.
A Marine Corps veteran who served from 1968 to 1970, Crockett said his second-place piece– a photo in a series of three titled “Pink at Night”– was one he took on a whim.
Winning second place at an event he’s participated in before, Crockett said, was an honor he was grateful to receive– a sentiment echoed by first-place winner Kohler, who won the people’s choice award last year.
An Army veteran who served four tours in Afghanistan and Iraq during his 21 years in the military, Kohler said his winning print– a frogman wearing a military-style jacket and carrying an engraving tool titled “Proof of Valor”– was the first to take inspiration from his years of service.
Like Kohler, Air Force veteran Barnard said his piece– a painting titled “Let the Peace Flow” – was one inspired by the heartache he felt in the face of war.
Having earned the people’s choice award with a piece he’s had for years, Barnard said, was a humbling experience.
Third-place winner Johnson was not able to attend the artist reception.
The Trusler Gallery’s Annual Veterans Exhibition will run through Nov. 14. For more information, visit emporiaksarts.org.
