The Whitewater Arts Alliance has announced the winners of the 13th Annual Fran Achen photography competition.
The competition and an exhibit of some of Fran Achen’s work are on display at the Whitewater Cultural Arts Center, 402 West Main Street, Whitewater, through Sunday, July 31.
Photography pieces entered into the completion are the works of area photographers.
The full exhibition, including the Fran Achen pieces and those entered into the competition, are available for viewing both in-person at the Cultural Arts Center gallery and online.
The online exhibition is found here: https://www.whitewaterarts.org/fran-achen-2022.
Additionally, on Sunday, July 31, a viewer’s choice award recipient will be announced. Visitors arriving in-person at the center as well as visitors online may cast their votes for up to three pieces. To cast votes online, visit: https://www.whitewaterarts.org/fran-achen-2022-vote.
Other award placements were selected by judges, according to information released by the Whitewater Arts Alliance.
A gallery reception and awards ceremony was held Sunday.
According to the release, award recipients are:
- First Place/Best of Show: John Messley, Rockford, Ill., for a piece titled: “Ice Fisherman.”
- Second Place: Paulette Marzahl, Delavan, for a piece titled: “Illusion of Fluidity.”
- Third Place: David Bueschel, Menomonee Falls, for a piece titled: “Mister Machine.”
The following recipients received honorable mention:
- Fletcher Crone, Whitewater, for a piece titled: “Tranquility of Mind.”
- Gary Galger, Madison, for a piece titled: “Childhood Dreams.”
- Paulette Marzahl, Delavan, for a piece titled: “Time Travel.”
- James Meldrum, Beloit, for a piece titled: “Summer Afternoon.”
- John Messley, Rockford, Ill., for a piece titled: “Trestle.”
- Karl Mohr, Machesney Park, Ill, who received recognition for three pieces. They are: “Baltic Mill,” “Horse Drawn Combine,” and “Rock Cut Kestrel.”
- Howard Rothstein, Whitewater, who received recognition for two pieces. They are: “Indigo Bunting” and “Trillium Studio Portrait.”
About Fran Achen
According to the “Find a Grave” website, Frances “Fran” Moses Achen was born Dec. 7, 1916, in Kenosha County. He is buried in the Hillside Cemetery, Whitewater. He died on Jan. 4, 2004 at the age of 87.
Information provided by Ancestors, Family Search, notes that Achen married Lydia Emma Nickos on Dec. 27, 1941, in Whitewater.
Information provided through geni.com describes Achen during his life as a photographer of “renown” in both the Whitewater and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater communities.
According to the site, Achen was raised in Kenosha and was a graduate of Kenosha High School. He next, in 1938, began attending classes at the Wisconsin State Teachers College at Whitewater, where he became a roving photographer and served as a reporter for the Royal Purple.
In 1941, Achen received a bachelor’s degree, majoring in geography. He married a college classmate in 1941.
After World War 11, the narrative reports, he “returned to Whitewater,” where, between 1946 and 1956, he operated a portrait studio. He next joined the faculty at Whitewater High School where he taught history and geography.
He is also credited as the “official game photographer” for the UW-Whitewater Warhawks football team, enjoying that role for 20 years and ending his tenure in that capacity in 1984. He was inducted into the Warhawk Hall of Fame in 2000.
The full narrative about Achen is here: https://www.geni.com/people/Francis-Achen/1883723.
For more information about the Whitewater Arts Alliance, and its upcoming exhibits and workshops, visit: https://www.whitewaterarts.org.
Whitewater Arts Alliance Fran Achen Annual Art Show competition chairman Jeff McDonald, at left, congratulates photographer John Messley, whose piece, titled: “Ice Fisherman,” was selected by a panel of judges as Best of Show. Messley is from Rockford, Ill. A second piece, titled: “Trestle,” received an honorable mention. Contributed photo.
Whitewater Arts Alliance Fran Achen Annual Art Show competition chairman Jeff McDonald, at left, congratulates photographer Paulette Marzahl, whose piece, titled: “Illusion of Fluidity,” was selected by a panel of judges as the show’s second-place winner. Marzahl is from Delavan. Contributed photo.
Whitewater Arts Alliance Fran Achen Annual Art Show competition third-place winning photograph, titled: “Mister Machine,” shown above, is the work of photographer David Bueschel, Menomonee Falls. Contributed photo.
Fran Achen. File photo/contributed.
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