MASON CITY — The Charles H. MacNider Art Museum has officially announced the award winners for the 46th Annual Cerro Gordo Photo Show. This year’s exhibition features 36 selected photographs from 20 regional artists, chosen by a panel of judges that included Dr. Martie Geiger-Ho and Daniel Pennington, the previous year’s Best in Show winner.
Brad Janson, a Clear Lake resident, earned the Best in Show award and a $125 prize for his framed color print titled “Beached Yacht.” The second-place award of $75 was presented to Abraham Wolf of Mason City for “Three’s Company,” while the third-place prize of $50 went to Mila W. Fullerton, also of Mason City, for her photograph “Abandon Shed,” captured on a Samsung Galaxy S21.
In the First Time Entrant category—a specialized division for artists competing in the show for the first time—Haylie Cox Estep of Mason City received the $50 Best First Time Entrant award for her work, “Microworlds.”
Several other North Iowa residents received Honorable Mentions for their entries. Recognizing outstanding work in the field, judges highlighted Lisa Grouette of Mason City for “Strolling,” David Crippin of Mason City for “Crater Lake Sentinel,” Wendy Janson of Clear Lake for “Shark’s Cove Rainbow,” and Alec Heggen of Clear Lake for “Final Resting Place.”
The 46th Annual Cerro Gordo Photo Show is currently open to the public and will remain on display through Saturday, July 11. The exhibition is sponsored by the Safford and Lena Lock Photo Endowment Fund. Admission to the Charles H. MacNider Art Museum is free of charge, and residents are encouraged to visit the museum’s website or contact the office directly for the most current visitor hours and information.
(TOP IMAGE: 46th Annual Cerro Gordo Photo Show Best in Show award winner Brad Janson of Clear Lake, Beached Yacht, framed color photograph)