This year’s winner of “Best in Show” at the 55^th Annual MEA/MAEA Art Acquisitions Purchase Exhibition is an artist and teacher who exemplifies the circle of life in education.

Josh Gove, a first-year elementary art teacher in St. Johns, says he credits skilled and encouraging educators from his youth for his love of art and desire to teach. “I owe a lot to my art teachers,” he said.

Drawing and painting has been a longtime hobby, along with world travel, he says. “Art is connected to everything I enjoy about life—travel, culture, language.”

Now he’s fostering his students’ creativity in the district where he grew up, after earning a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Alma College and K-12 certification from Central Michigan University.

Gove’s piece, “Reliquia,” demonstrated “true mastery” of intaglio printmaking, according to juror Dr. Michelle Duran, an assistant professor of Art history in Ball State University’s School of Art.

The challenging and labor-intensive printmaking process uses designs etched on metal plates, ink, and an acid dip to create the image on paper.

“I was impressed with the amount of detail and the overall composition, and I found the monochromatic palette to be a soothing and complementary background for the exploration of the various shapes and figures,” Duran said.

The piece was meant to replicate ancient art with his own themes and imagery. The two central figures on the throne represent his grandparents, who lived next door and helped raise him, Gove said. “They were role models I looked up to, and they were figureheads in my family.”

His grandmother encouraged him in whatever he pursued, including art and education, he said. Gove is also a former high school and college tennis player who now coaches the varsity boys’ team at St. Johns and serves as an assistant coach at Alma College.

In the MEA/MAEA art exhibit two years ago, Gove had a piece accepted and purchased while he was still a student at CMU. He was “shocked and surprised and very honored” to have his entry win this year’s top prize.

The exhibit is open to the public and runs through May 7 (Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-5 p.m. – excluding April 19/Good Friday) and will be posted online by April 1. Below is a list of those accepted, awards bestowed by the juror and purchases made by MEA and MAEA.

View slideshow of the 2019 MEA/MAEA Art Acquisitions Purchase Exhibition

ACCEPTED ENTRIES

Jeanine Ackerman Smith, Burton, Sunset on Lake Michigan, Fused Glass & Fall Leaves, Felted Wool/Cast Glass

Janet Almstadt-Davison, Oakland, Vase of Flowers, Acrylic on Paper & Playing Music, Water Media

Jim Banas, Okemos, Wait for Breakfast, & Acrylic & Relax and Reflect, Acrylic

Natalie Barmore, Harper Woods, A Cry for Help & On the Streets of Bahia, Photography

Christy Berry, Quincy, Blue Iris & Pink Flower, Watercolor

William Boyer, Detroit, Antietam Sunrise, Apple Digital

Pamela Brown, Jeddo, Psychedelic Milkweed Pods, Watercolor, Ink, Pen

Deborah Brown-Cage, Detroit, Untitled, Acrylic Pouring on Canvas

Cheryl Campbell, Waterford, Family, Acrylic/Canvas Board

Janine Campbell, Dorr, Constructing a World I & Constructing a World II, Latex & Cut Paper

Jacqueline Carroll, East Lansing, The Swan King, 35mm Photography

Helene Cassidy, Canton, Leaves on Water & Rain Delay, Photography

Deborah Conner, Newport, Getting Hairy, Graphite/Color Pencil

Elizabeth Costello, West Bloomfield, Twirl, Photography

Francie Dittrich, Haslett, Rust in Peace, Watercolor

Jacqueline Edwards Lane, Detroit, This Tree, Original Photo w/Mixed Media

Joel Ellis, Haslett, Ageless Dawn & Superior Outlook, Oil on Linen

Colleen Ford, Swartz Creek, Skylar’s Choice, Watercolor

Laura Gajewski, Portland, 301 Lyon (Flint) & Carriage Town (Flint), Mixed Media Charcoal Drawing

Miriam Garcia, Lansing, Splendor of Horseshoe Bend, Page, AZ, Photography, Metal Print

Sally Giroux, Saginaw, Daily Intention: Manitou, Fiber

Joshua Gove, St. Johns, Reliquia, Intaglio Print

Sigrid Grace, Rochester Hills, First Violets of Spring, Acrylic

Lynn Gregg, South Lyon, Prisoners in Paradise & Haitian Cyclist, Photography

Emmanuel Haratsaris, Royal Oak, Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse, Photography

Catherine Hetherington, Howell, Rubies for Jennabelle, Alla Prima Oil

Annie Howard, Adrian, Neutral Movement & Eye of the Ocean, Wood, Vintage, Paper, Paper, Acrylic

Victoria Hussey, Clinton Twp., Intertwined No. 1 & Intertwined No. 2, Ink & Thread

Mary Clare Johnson, Kent City, Dancing Duo & Moon Dance, Acrylic

Terry Junger, Chelsea, Roots and Rocks, Collage/Mixed

Jennifer Kay-Rivera, Warren, Peacock, Woodblock Print

Carrie Keeley, Midland, Change in Blue & Iris and Cabbage Butterflies, Reduction Linocut

Susan Kruszynski, Muskegon, A Touch of Teal on the Lakeshore & Kauai, The Island Paradise, Fabric Landscape Art

Pat Miller Coy, Paw, Crusin the Keys, Oil & Wait for Me, Acrylic

Tammy Noirot, Colon, Alphabetically Speaking & The Wright Mood, Photography

Andrea Novak, Novi, Warmth and Protection, Acrylic Assemblage & Peacock, Graphite on Vellum

Carol Patrick, Lansing, Learning from the Master & Beacon of Freedom, Photography

Keith Rayner, St. Clair Shores, Love in Slipper, Cyanotype Photography

Jennifer Rynkowski, Macomb, A Drop of Beauty & Droplets of Rain, Photography

Kristen Schultz, Sterling Heights, Ascending to the Heavens, Acrylic Papers & The Beeloved Beauty, Printmaking

Katherine Schuur, Farmington Hills, The Beloved Honey, Printmaking

Kate Sezniak, Royal Oak, Bee Visits Camellia, Photography

Sharada Sharp, Shelby Twp., Amsterdam, Photography

Rhonda Sherwin, Williamston, Neurotransmission, Mixed Media

Tony Shopinski, Detroit, Red Wing, Oil on Canvas

Randy Simmons, Croswell, Morning Thunder, Ink/Watercolor

Henrietta Spiris, Haslett, Michigan Butterflies & Barn with History, Photography

Carolyn Steenland, Newaygo, Celadon & Copperwood, Fused Glass

Thomas Thiery, Adrian, Street Artists, Watercolor

Gail Trapp Bohner, Osseo, November Leaves at Sunset, Monoprint/Color Pencil

Carol Trojanowski, Haslett, Winter Wonderland & 4 Seasons, Fiber Art

Adam VanHouten, Traverse City, An Apple A Day & Summer Light, Watercolor on Paper

Pat Vartanian, Novi, Lepidoptera Study #1, Mixed Media Paper Weaving

Danna Walke Bowersox, Northville, Birches in November Wood, Multi-Patina, Multi Metal & Wood

Beverly Watson, Redford, Robert (Rob or Robbie no Bob or Bobby), Pastel

Susan Williams, Lansing, Birches, Oil

Emily Wolfe, Clinton Twp., Florence, Photography

Judy Wood Thurston, Clare, Cherries on Crystal & Silk & Chinese Lanterns, Watercolor

BEST IN SHOW AWARD

Joshua Gove, St. Johns, Reliquia, Intaglio Print

JUROR’S CHOICE AWARDS

Laura Gajewski, Portland, 301 Lyon (Flint), Mixed Media Charcoal Drawing

Laura Gajewski, Portland, Carriage Town (Flint), Mixed Media Charcoal Drawing

Sally Giroux, Saginaw, Daily Intention: Manitou, Fiber

Susan Kruszynski, Muskegon, A Touch of Teal on the Lakeshore, Fabric Landscape Art

Andrea Novak, Novi, Warmth and Protection, Acrylic Assemblage

Carol Patrick, Lansing, Beacon of Freedom, Photography

Thomas Thiery, Adrian, Street Artists, Watercolor

Carol Trojanowski, Haslett, 4 Seasons, Fiber Art (Mini Art Quilt)

Susan Williams, Lansing, Birches, Oil

HONORABLE MENTION AWARDS

Jeanine Ackerman Smith, Burton, Sunset on Lake Michigan, Fused Glass

Janet Almstadt-Davison, Oakland, Playing Music, Water Media

Natalie Barmore, Harper Woods, On the Streets of Bahia, Photography

William Boyer, Detroit, Antietam Sunrise, Apple Digital

Sigrid Grace, Rochester Hills, First Violets of Spring, Acrylic

Lynn Gregg, South Lyon, Haitian Cyclist, Photography

Catherine Hetherington, Howell, Rubies for Jennabelle, Alla Prima Oil

Keith Rayner, St. Clair Shores, Love in Slipper, Cyanotype Photography

Katherine Schuur, Farmington Hills, The Beeloved Beauty, Printmaking

MAEA PURCHASE IN HONOR OF ART EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR – Adrienne DeMilner of Belmont

Laura Gajewski, Portland, 301 Lyon and Carriage Town (Flint), Mixed Media Charcoal Drawing

MEA PURCHASES

Joshua Gove, St. Johns, Reliquia, Intaglio Print

Annie Howard, Adrian, Neutral Movement, Paper, Watercolor, Vintage Paper

Carrie Keeley, Midland, Change in Blue, Reduction Linocut

Susan Kruszynski, Muskegon, A Touch of Teal on the Lakeshore, Fabric Landscape Art

Randy Simmons, Croswell, Morning Thunder, Ink/Watercolor

Carolyn Steenland, Newaygo, Copperwood, Fused Glass

Thomas Thiery, Adrian, Street Artists, Watercolor