"Vicinity 2025" at Norris Gallery in St. Charles, IL Boasts 70 Outstanding Art Pieces and 9 Amazing Award Winners -- Check them out here first!

LESTER NORRIS AWARD: Cynthia Hellyer Heinz, MANDALA: NESTING IN CIRCUMNAMBULATION OF WHOLENESS; colored pencil...Scroll down for more winning artwork

This popular annual juried show at the Norris Cultural Arts Center in St. Charles, 1040 Dunham Road, always draws outstanding work from artists living within the vicinity (considered a 50-mile radius from the gallery). All pieces are available for sale with a percentage helping support the gallery. Show judges were Wes Douglas and Don Yang -- a challenging job for a show that boasts so much outstanding talent. Visitors can see the exhibit now through Sunday, November 2, 2025. Gallery hours are Thursday-Sunday, 11 AM to 4 PM. Admission is free. Don't miss it!

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: "A Paris Lobby" by Catherine McLain; colored pencil

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: "Best Friends" by H. Dean Willis; watercolor

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: "Field of Inspiration" by Nancy Legner; acrylic on canvas

HONORABLE MENTION: "Gargoyle" by Howard Russo; sculpture/found art

HONORABLE MENTION: "Denali" by Yale Factor; oils on canvas

HONORABLE MENTION: "Orange Moon" by Kathleen Eaton; oil paint on canvas

By John Stanicek, GREEK GOD HESPHAESTUS; pencil -- although not a designated award winner, ART BEAT BUZZ found it to be a very arresting piece! Well done!! P.S. For those of you who might be unfamiliar with this Greek God (as I was) here's the 4-1-1: The primary symbols of Hephaestus, the Greek god of fire and craftsmanship, are the hammer, anvil, and tongs, representing his role as the god of blacksmiths and artisans.

HONORABLE MENTION: "Untitled" by Roberta Kullen; oil

BOMBED OUT CHURCH -- Liverpool; Lisa Youngdahl; colored pencil; Again, not an award winner, but fascinating subject matter -- well executed -- while also making the viewer pause and ponder. Nice job, Lisa!

"Embrace" by Gillian Vodnik; acrylic on canvas; not an award winner, but absolutely gorgeous! Love the color palette.