“This year’s large group of entries for AWA’s National Juried Competition is such an impressive representation of the overall level of skill, talent and vision of our Associate members,” says Executive Director Diane Swanson. “Good luck to our selection jurors, who have so much amazing work to choose from as we work toward finalizing the show!”

This year’s selection jurors Diana Pardue, Curator of Collections at the Heard Museum, Phoenix, AZ; Clark Olson and Christi Manuelito, owners of Bonner David Galleries; Master Signature members Kim Casebeer and Sherry Salari Sander; Signature members Angela de la Vega and Jane Barton are busy sorting through over 900 entries received. 

Stay tuned to find out which of our 360 applicants will be joining the Signature and Master Signature members in the 2015 Annual Member Show at Bonner David Galleries in Scottsdale, Arizona this Fall.  

Congratulations go out to California sculptor Shannon Walk Hayneswho won the most votes in our online contest to rename our monthly newsletter with her entry, “Perspectives.” 

Shannon is a new AWA Associate member and has just participated in her first AWA Juried Competition.  “I decided to join AWA because I was so impressed with the members,” Walk Haynes says. “I recognized so many artists whose work I have been watching for a while.” 

Walk Haynes works in clay, bronze and stone. Her work is known for the sense of motion her figures all share and each piece is complimented by a hand-carved stone base. 

“Sometimes I find the stone first, the piece I am working on now was inspired by the stone,” Walk Haynes says. “I love the combination – you have this elevated bronze and the stone brings it back to earth.”

Born and raised in San Diego, Walk Haynes grew up spending a lot of time outdoors and her fascination with horses began at an early age. Her time spent riding and caring for horses has inspired much of her work. She is particularly interested in the way rider and horse communicate with each other. She creates from a romantic and poetic perspective, with a narrative for each piece.

“My piece Courage & Faith is based on the relationship between the naturally timid prey animal, the horse, who draws courage from the rider,” Walk Haynes says.

In college Walk Haynes studied Animal Health and later, Graphic Design. Her work in veterinary hospitals, and in corporate advertising and design helped her establish herself as a professional artist. 

“Having background in anatomy comes in handy,” says Walk Haynes,  “it is helpful to know where and how all those muscles are supposed to attach and move together.”  

Though she has had no formal fine arts training, Walk Haynes has work-shopped with sculptor Mehl Lawson and stone sculptor Ante Marinovic. She also enjoys watercolor and oil painting, and spent many years working in multimedia and digital art. 

Seee more of Shannon Walk Haynes work or visit her blog at www.shannonwalkhaynes.com