The Pasadena Society of Artists recently held its 95^th Annual Juried Exhibition at local studio White’s Gallery, awarding various artists with prestigious honors. Among these was Vibiana Aparicio-Chamberlin, who received The Martin Mondrus Memorial Award for best portrait for her work “Tia Blanca,” watercolor with ink on paper.

Martin Mondrus was a printmaker, painter and a PSA distinguished artist during his 50-plus years as a member of PSA. He was a professor of art at Glendale Community College and a member of the Los Angeles Printmaking Society.

Also recognized was Margaret Raab, who received The James Ackley McBride Landscape Award for her work “Verdant Web,” an oil on board.

This award has been given to a selected artist at every PSA Annual Exhibition since the late 1920s. Dr. and Mrs. Eva McBride established the Award in the memory of their son James Ackley McBride who served in the French Army during WWI, then the American Expeditionary Force. He was a 1st lieutenant and pilot in the 9^th Aero Squadron on the Western Front. He died Oct. 6, 1918 and is buried in Argonne Remy cemetery in Europe. Eva McBride was an oil and watercolor landscape painter and one of the founders of the Pasadena Art Institute, which was located in the Reed mansion in Carmelita Park on the northeast corner of Orange Grove and Colorado boulevards.

Emily Suñez received The Chantal Giddens Memorial Award for best painting for her piece “Golden Barrel Sea,” an oil on canvas.

Chantal Giddens was born and educated in France. She studied in Bordeaux, Hong Kong, London and Los Angeles, notably under artist Douglas Bond. She embraced diverse cultures. Her love for Asian design, combined with a passion for myth and fairy tales, were primary elements in her paintings.

Additional awards were presented to Mariko Bird, who received an Honorable Mention Award for her piece “Rhapsodie Provençal,” a high fire ceramic. Awards of Merit were presented to Sonali Kolhatkar for “Masked Warrior,” an acrylic on canvas;

Brian Mark for “Welcome,” a sculpture in Picasso marble; and Tsvetelina Valkov for

“The Benefit of the Doubt,” an etching, aquatint and watercolor monoprint.

Albert Natian received an honorable mention for his work “Many Worlds Interpretation,” pen and ink on paper and Nancy Wood Pink also received an honorable mention for her piece “Taking It All In,” glazed high-fire stoneware.

Founded in 1925 by a group led by “the dean of Pasadena painters,” Benjamin Brown, the Pasadena Society of Artists is one of the area’s original professional artist groups. The Society is noted for its vigorous active membership, wide diversity of artistic statement, and high professional standards. Membership is by juried submission.

www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org