<p> PRESS RELEASE February 26, 2013 Contact: Claire Hedden </p><p>Krista G. Profitt Wins Top Art Prize at MCAC</p><p>Krista G. Profitt, a painting graduate student at Illinois State University’s School of Art, has won the Merwin Medal for the most outstanding work of art in this year’s 86th Annual McLean County Amateur Art Competition-Exhibition. Her winning work, The Confrontation, is a large oil on canvas painting. </p><p>A complete list of award winners is attached.</p><p>The winners and additional selected works, submitted by amateur artists from McLean County and juried by Jodi Birdwell, will be on exhibition at McLean County Arts Center through April 20, 2013.</p><p>McLean County Arts Center is located at 601 N. East Street in downtown Bloomington. MCAC hours are Tuesday, 10am – 7pm; Wednesday – Friday, 10am – 5pm, and Saturday, Noon – 4pm. For more information, please call 309/829-0011. McLean County Arts Center is supported in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency. 86th Annual McLean County Amateur Art Competition-Exhibition Award Winners</p><p>Merwin Medal – Best of Show – Krista G. Profitt</p><p>HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS 1st PLACE 2nd PLACE Painting – Katharine Woollen Amethyst Campbell</p><p>Graphics – Mary E. Palmer Alyssa Reuter</p><p>Photography – Micheala Dennis Samantha Coulon</p><p>Sculpture – Morgan Brown Brandon Aden</p><p>UNIVERSITY STUDENTS 1st PLACE 2nd PLACE Painting – Erin Hayden </p><p>Graphics – Jamie Pitts Margaret Norcross </p><p>Photography – Michelle Lee Wallace Brenton Thompson Jennifer Peters</p><p>Sculpture – Jamie Morrow Evan Pomerantz</p><p>ADULTS 1st PLACE 2nd PLACE Painting – Diane Madel Rick Walden</p><p>Graphics – Jennifer Schuetz Lisa Thomas</p><p>Photography – Alyssa Bralower Michael O’Brien Mardell Klasen</p><p>Sculpture – Jody Baker-Wiley</p><p>This exhibition and awards are made possible by the generosity of the following sponsors: Ron Bacon & Dee Bohbrink, Berta Accounting, The Copy Shop, Emmett-Scharf Electrical, Francois Associates Architects LLC, Glodo’s Original Kettle Korn, Ken & Jan Holder, JMC Photo & Digital Services, KodaRoamers Camera Club of Bloomington-Normal, Mid-America Insurance Services, Inc., Carmel & Rod Rhoda, Robert & Connie Stefl, The Tiemerc Foundation, Timothy Kent Gallery & Framing, Patsy & Lynn Webber, Doug & Margaret Williams.</p>