LATHROP – A compelling sculpture of an eagle and its hapless prey is this year’s winner of the Lathrop Mayor’s Art Purchase Award.

The hefty three-dimensional art piece titled “Coup de Grace” was won by Stockton artist Gilbert Olivas. The same work also won first place in its category – sculpture/three-dimensional – plus two Sponsor’s Choice awards, with each award worth $100 for a total of $300. The Mayor’s Art Purchase purse is $500 which brings Olivas’ award sweep to a grand total of $800.

The price tag of Olivas’ sculpture was actually $2,500 but he agreed to accept the $500 award “because he felt so honored,” said Lathrop Parks and Recreation supervisor Moe Iorio who helped in this  year’s art show.

“He said it was such an honor (for his work) to be chosen and to be showcased at City Hall,” Iorio said.

Olivas’ “Coup de Grace,” along with the other winners plus the rest of the 147 pieces entered this year, are currently on display for public viewing in the Council Chambers at City Hall during regular business hours. The last opportunity to see the exhibit is today until 5:30 p.m. City Hall is closed on Fridays which is part of the city’s effort to deal with a budget deficit that still stands at nearly a million dollars. However, City Hall will be open in the evening on Friday for the 6 p.m. artists’ reception and awards presentation.

Among the first-place winners in the six categories selected by judge Richard Savini, an art professor at California State University, Stanislaus, is an oil painting by Tom Olson of Manteca titled “Country Farmhouse.” The Manteca artist, widely known for his romantic oil renditions of rustic pastoral scenes and old barns, is a former winner of the Mayor’s Art Purchase Award. His winning painting is now part of the city’s permanent collection in the Joyce Gatto Gallery at City Hall.

“I thought we had some really good art,” Gatto said of the body of work entered in the contest this year.

Gatto, who is chairman of the Mayor’s Art Committee, started the annual art show and sale 17 years ago with her band of loyal volunteers from the community which includes her husband, Bennie, former two-time Lathrop mayor and current chairman of the Planning Commission and the Lathrop-Manteca Fire District board.

“Our show is still really good and I’m really glad that I kept on doing it because we have just gotten so many good responses,” Gatto said.

This year’s contest featured six categories: oils and acrylics, watercolors, pastels and drawing, photography, sculpture/3-dimensional, and miscellaneous. The following won first place in each category, along with their prize sponsors: Olson in oil and acrylics for “Country Farmhouse,” Financial Center Credit Union; Henrietta Sparkman in watercolors for “Kennedy Meadows,” Mikasa Japanese Bistro of Lathrop; Joan Cardoza in pastels and drawing for “The Monk,” Delta A/C Supply of Lathrop; Michael Randolph in photography for “Onion Fields,” Farm World, LLC; Gilbert Olivas in sculpture/3-dimensional for “Coup de Grace,” Con-Fab California Corporation; and Dorothy  Girling in miscellaneous for “Food for Thought,” Allied Waste Services.

Among the entries this year are a few wearable art that included a bracelet and a necklace.

“This is the first time that we had jewelry,” said Gatto who was not sure if those entries were listed under the miscellaneous or sculpture categories.
One of the standouts is a life-sized metal sculpture of a striking cobra by French Camp artist Jerrod Mays.

To be announced on Friday during the artists’ reception will be the winners of the People’s Choice Award and the Kids’ Choice Award.

To contact Rose Albano Risso, e-mail ralbanorisso@mantecabulletin.com or call (209) 249-3536.