"South American Glory" by Thomas J. Kalina Takes First Place

Thomas J. Kalina of Racine, Wisconsin, won the Best of Show award and the top prize of $1,000 in the 2005 EAA Sport Aviation Art Contest. His entry, "South American Glory," depicts a Douglas DC-7B taking off in the early evening light.

Four other category winners took home $250 awards and included Ardell Bourgeois, Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada -- "James Allen Ward, VC" -- Warbirds category; Leon Basler, Bismarck, North Dakota -- "Lifting the Spirit" -- Sport Aviation; M. Randall Mytar, Sherman Oaks, California -- "Fly Fishing" -- Vintage; and Ron Hart, Bend, Oregon -- "Manned Flight" -- Open Bourgeois' entry illustrated a British airman on the wing of an in-flight Vickers Wellington Mk.IC. bomber attempting to douse a wing fire caused by enemy flak. Basler's entry depicted a solitary glider soaring above a canyon.

Mytar's entry was a watercolor showing a man and child fishing while perched on the float of a Piper J-3 Cub.

Hart's entry shows a man "standing" on a large paper airplane as is soars over an open field.

This year's jury members were Jim LaMalfa - Professor of Art, University of Wisconsin-Marinette; Li Hu, Art Professor, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh; Joe D'Uva, Assistant Art Professor, Lawrence University, Appleton, Wisconsin; Mike DiFrisco, EAA Director of Marketing Services; Susan Zolkowski-Kirk, EAA Display and Sign Coordinator, H. G. Frautschy, Executive Director & Editor, Vintage Airplane Association; and Alan Westby, Director, Collections & Interpretation, EAA AirVenture Museum.

115 entries were received, with initial judging taking place on April 6. Final judging was completed on May 18 at the EAA Gorman Gallery, where the winning art will be on display from June 2005 through May 2006. Final judging for the 29th annual event took place this week at the Gorman Gallery, located at EAA AirVenture Museum, Oshkosh. EAA's is the longest running aviation art contest in the country.

FMI: www.eaa.org