2026 January Detroit Roots at the DPL

Images are alphabetical according to artist.

Juror Takeisha Jefferson shared a thoughtful and memorable talk on the impact and significance of the work we create, and on the strength of the DSWPS art community. She selected the following works for awards:

First Place: Michele Hunt, I Saved You a Seat
Second Place: Janet Kondziela, Open for Business
Third Place: Margaret Reese, Make a Wish
Honorable Mention: Barbara Clay, Conjoined Honorable Mention: Kate McNamee, The Packard Plant

The exhibition ends April 30, 2026

Closing Reception Wednesday, April 22, 5:30–7:30 pm

Kate Apple, Let's Take a Walk

Renee Atkinson, Mary's Poppy

Estela Monjo Boudreau, Spring Maiden

Danna Bowersox, Untitled 2025

Linda Boyle, Detroit Aquatics

Kristine Brokstad, Solstice

Marguerite Carroll Carlton, No One Knows All of Me

Cheryl Chidester, Steps of Wonder and Quiet Exploration

HONORABLE MENTION: Barbara Clay, Conjoined

Barbara Clay, Stories

Jan Filarski, Detroit People Mover

Anne Furnaris, The Descent of the Holy Spirit

Wilhelmina Giblin, Traveling to Grandma's House

Ruth Harvey, Hanging with Vincent at the DIA

Shirley Hathaway, Time Lapses

Julia Holtgreive, Sink or Swim

FIRST PLACE: Michelle Hunt, I Saved You a Seat

Michelle Hunt, Persist

Gabriela Jimenez, The Fisher

SECOND PLACE: Janet Kondziela, Open for Business

Janet Kondziela, Ice Patterns

Susan Kwolek, Alberto

Carol LaChiusa, Girls' Day Out on Belle Isle

Deborah Maiale, Shoreline Eras

Loretta Markell, Visiting the Conservatory

Dawn Mattocks, Cosmic Fertility

Betty McGraw, Metamorphosis

HONORABLE MENTION: Kathleen McNamee, Packard Plant

Lynn Edwards Newman, Overflowing with Possibilities

Kathleen W. O'Connell, Good Day Belle Isle, 2024

Kathryn Poremski, Hustle

THIRD PLACE: Margaret Reese, Make a Wish

Jackie Rybinski, Oudolf Garden & Whitcomb Conservatory

Barbara Smith-Gibson, Mapping the Inner Current

Cynthia Sommerville, Belle Isle Crossing

Alisa Liguori Stratton, Off Woodward (February)

Alisa Liguori Stratton, The Light

Mary Taitt, Keith Renaissance Center

Laurie Tennent, Detroit Institute of Arts

Vasu Tolia, Where the City Listens and Reads

Penelope Trikes, Life at the Pond

Pat Vartanianm Model T

Barbara Weisenberg, Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory

Lori Zurvalec, Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory on Belle Isle

President Alyssa Stratton introducing the juror

Juror Takeisha Jefferson

First-Place winner Michele Hunt receiving her award from Exhibitions Chair Margaret Reese and Juror Takeisha Jefferson

Second Place winner Janet Kondziela

Third Place winner Margaret Reese with Takeisha Jefferson

Honorable Mention winner Barbara Clay

Marguerite Carlton and Theresa Moore

Audience at the opening reception