West Bloomfield Resident Wins County Art Contest

Deborah Hyde of West Bloomfield is the winner of Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson’s MI Great Artist regional competition. The winner was announced during a reception Friday evening at Park West Gallery in Southfield.

The runners-up are Charles Boike of Flint; Kim Fujiwara of Rochester Hills; Douglas La Ferle of Royal Oak; and Molly Landis of Pontiac.

"All of the finalists are outstanding artists,” Patterson said. “Deborah Hyde stood out to the judges because she has a unique method of creating large quilts that almost look photographic."

Hyde says her technique, which she developed herself, takes hundreds of hours from her first sketches to sewing the completed product. 

"I cut, place and sew one-inch fabric squares to make large figurative works," Hyde said. "I have developed my own technique over the last 10 years, and lately have used a traditional Amish quilt pattern named 'Sunshine and Shadow' in which I imbed my image, manipulating color values to create depth and contour in my figures. Bold forms, interesting colors, and evocative images compel my work."

Hyde receives a $1,000 cash prize; up to five submitted artworks framed by Park West Gallery; a scholarship to attend classes on marketing and starting a new business offered through the Oakland County Business Center; will have her artwork featured on a poster to promote one of Oakland County’s signature quality of life events, printed by Park West Gallery; a solo exhibition at McLaren Oakland Hospital, Pontiac; and a solo exhibition at Lawrence Technological University, Southfield.

The other finalists each receive a $250 cash prize; framing of up to five artworks included in the submission, Park West Gallery; a scholarship to attend one Business Basics workshop offered through the Oakland County Business Center; a one-hour consultation with an Oakland County business development representative; and a two-month solo exhibition in the Oakland County Galleria in Waterford.

Hyde’s and the other finalists' art is on exhibit at Park West Gallery, 29469 Northwestern Hwy. in Southfield until Sept. 28. To view their submitted art online, go to MIGreatArtist.com.

"The inaugural year of the MI Great Artist contest was a resounding success. I’m looking forward to seeing great work from next year’s artists," Patterson said.

Source: Oakland County Executive