70th Annual Fine Art Show and Exhibition
March 9, 2025 – The Mother Lode Art Association is seeking artists for its 70th Annual Fine Art Show. The show, which will be held at the Sonora Opera Hall, from Friday, April 11th through Friday, April 18th, is being held during the 5th Annual Tuolumne County Art Week.
The MLAA show is now calling all artists to enter and share their creativity in one of the many categories of art. Entry forms and eligibility rules are available online obtain a Prospectus (entry form) please go to: motherlodeartassociation.org or visit the Aloft Gallery on Washington Street. Entries must be postmarked no later than Monday, March 17, 2025.
The show at the Sonora Opera Hall, 250 S. Washington St., will open on Friday, April 11th at 5:00 P.M., with an award presentation at 6:00 P.M. The show will open on Saturday, April 12th, 10:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. and Sunday, April 13th, 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Music will be provided Friday evening, April 11, on Saturday evening, April 12, Sunday afternoon, April 13, and Friday 
evening, April 18th. There will be a raffle and silent auction which will close at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, April 18. The grand raffle prize is artwork by Diana Boegel entitled “Teapot and Lemons”. (pictured above) Raffle tickets may be purchased at the Aloft Gallery in Sonora and are available for purchase at the show. You need not be present to win.
Categories for the Show are 1. Acrylic and Oils, 2. Watercolor, 3. Mixed Media, 4. 3-Dimensional, 5. Pastels, and 6. Drawing. In addition to the prestige of winning at the annual event, there are some very generous awards: Best of Show, $300, People’s Choice,$100, Diane Sanguinetti Honorary Award, $100, Louisa King Honorary Award, $100. Awards in categories 1 -6 for first, $100, second, $75 and third, $50 plus Honorable Mentions. A Youth Show will be presented in the Tuolumne County Library during the MLAA’s Art Show and merit award winners will be selected for recognition at the April 11th Awards presentation. Featured art by WATCH members will be presented as well as photography by the Sonora Photo Club.
This well-known and local Fine Art Show is MLAA’s primary fundraiser with proceeds from entry fees, art sale commissions, raffle and silent auction going to support art education in local schools. In addition to the regular show Tuolumne County Arts will sponsor a juried student show which will be presented for viewing at the Tuolumne County Library on Greenley Rd. in Sonora.
Included with the many mediums of art represented at the Opera Hall will be members of the Sonora Photo Club sharing images from its in-house photo contest. The MLAA is also very excited to present work representing members of the WATCH Resources Community.
The show will open with an artist reception from 5:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. on Friday, April 11, 2025. Awards will be announced and music will be provided by Blue Oak. The reception is open to the public at no charge at the Sonora Opera Hall, 250 S. Washington Street in Sonora. The show will continue through April 18th. For more information, please go online to: motherlodeartassociation.org/2025artshow.
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1st Prize, 3-Dimensional Magnetic Chess Board by James Bunker
3d Pastel, Fall Glory, Renetta Hayes
Hollyhocks, pastel, by Grace Glassey
Resting in the Shade, cat 1 first prize by Eva Walker
Source & photos: Mother Lode Art Association
