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Some of the region's most talented artists captured some of the region's richest heritage in "History Through Art," on exhibit through May 30 at West Overton Museums, near Scottdale.

"We understand that it's the first juried show in the state that has original art with the theme of history," said Don Stohl, director of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Council for the Arts, which organized the show in conjunction with the museum.

From more than 150 entries, juror John Dropcho, a retired professor of art from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, selected 56 paintings and photographs by 42 artists who used many styles and media to depict familiar places and events.

Early local history is represented by Ray W. Forquer's acrylic of "Washington at Fort Necessity July 3, 1734," and Jim Miller's woodcut of "Charlie Barkley's Cabin." Mary Kay Karolewics won West Overton's Honorable Mention for her watercolor of "The S-Bridge, 1818," and the Excellence in Photography went to Joy Fairbanks for "Reflections of the Past."

"It was just wonderful how she caught Old Bedford Village," Stohl said. "The juror was really impressed with the quality of that photograph."

Rural heritage was portrayed in Robert Jones' oil painting of "Ebenezer Covered Bridge," Scott Manco's photo of "Henry Covered Bridge," which won an Award of Merit, and the Mail Pouch barn in "An Era Gone," an oil painting by Elizabeth Ohr.

Transportation is featured with a trolley in "#10 Westview," an oil on canvas by Robert D. Huckerstein, Helen Alt's watercolor of "Old B&O Station," and Dai Morgan's acrylic of "Allegheny County Airport." Ray Rafferty used digital art photography for "Art Deco Gas Station," and Roxann Wall did an oil painting of "26 9/10," a gas pump at a ramshackle station.

"That was the price of gas at the time," Stohl said.

William Perry's "North Side Morning" received an Award of Excellence.

"It really hinges on being experimental," Stohl said. "It looks like it's a painting of rectangles and squares, then you look at it and you can see the North Side of Pittsburgh. It's a fabulous watercolor. Another one that the judge thought was fantastic is 'Butler Candy Co.'"

Kit Paulsen did that watercolor painting from a photograph of her grandfather standing by a truck, circa 1920. That won an Award of Merit, and so did Abraham D. Fotta's "Late in the Season," a pencil drawing of a tractor in a shed, with finely detailed hay in the foreground.

Historical buildings are represented in Elenor Skibo's photo of "The Summit Inn" and E. Marie Lint's painting of "Friendship Hill." There were several paintings of past industries, and Cynthia Colley won Best of Show for her acrylic, "Mill Interior With Slag Buckets." Richard A. Stoner photographed recent history in "Flight 93 Crash Memorial, Shanksville Pa. 2002."

"I think it's a wonderful show and we have a great space for it in the basement of the distillery with stone, brick and distressed walls," said Grant Gerlich, executive director of the West Overton Museums. "It's a nice dramatic setting."

The winners

Best of Show: "Mill Interior With Slag Buckets," acrylic by Cynthia Cooley

Award of Excellence: "North Side Morning," watercolor by William Perry

Award of Excellence given by Westmoreland County Historical Society: "Ligonier Tavern," oil by William M. Hoffman Jr.

Awards of Merit: "Late In The Season," pencil drawing by Abraham D. Fotta; "Butler Candy Co.," watercolor by Kit Paulsen

Honorable mention by West Overton: "Another Dawn," acrylic by Allen Maloney; "The S-Bridge, 1818," watercolor by Mary Kay Karolewics

Award of Excellence in photography: "Reflections of the Past" by Joy Fairbanks

Awards of Merit in Photography: "Inside Out" by Betty Elias; "Henry Covered Bridge" by Scott Manko

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