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The Museum of the Gulf Coast celebrated local Port Arthur artist Robert Rauschenberg’s 100th birthday for its 10th annual Art and Photography contest.

The reception occurred Feb. 13 in the Dunn Gallery to a crowd of over 100 participants and attendees. Artists and photographers were invited to enter works inspired by the artistry of Robert Rauschenberg.

Grace Mathis won that competition and was awarded a poster held by the museum that was once donated by Rauschenberg. Other categories were Professional Art (having sold more than 3 pieces), Nonprofessional Art, Photography, Youth Art (grades 6-8), Teen Art (grades 9-12), and Student Photography. 

The art categories were judged by Albert Faggard and Amy Tolbert Faggard. The photography competitions were judged by Dennis Moncla.

The winners are as follows:

 

Youth Art:

Honorable Mention: Ricki Lyn Rackenschuh and Samuel Dunn

3rd Place: for Untitled, Rafi Latiolais

2nd Place: for Games, Domino Sutton

1st Place: for Beach Landscape, Kenleigh Harris

 

Teen Art

Honorable Mention: Timmy Schreck, Ella Owens, Elizabeth Carrillo, Luke Douglas, Scarlett Patxot, and

Alejandro Ramirez

6th Place: Panda, Madisyn Block

5th Place: Hand of Moses, Baylor Dillon

4th Place: Buttons!, Phoebe Patton

3rd Place: Trick or Treat, Brooklyn McMaster

2nd Place: Mark Edelstein, Elizaveta Gorokhova

1st Place: Vanitas, Harley Babb

 

Student Photography

Honorable Mention: Melanie Hilario, Haydee Castillo

3rd Place: Reaching the Oasis, Payton Bryan

2nd Place: Timeless Tulips at the Market, Aaliyah Elizondo

1st Place: Brown Beauty, Elizabeth Carrillo

 

Adult Photography

Honorable Mention: Jerry Connally, Shari Stark, Mike Cacioppo

3rd Place: Cattail Marsh at Sunrise, Lori Spaid

2nd Place: Cruising, Jerry Connally

1st Place: Busy Bee, Rosemary Mathis

 

Non-Professional Art

3rd Place: Summer, Grace Mathis

2nd Place: Remember You Are One, Maria Chinn

1st Place: Blue Carnations, Ashley McNeil

 

Professional Art

Honorable Mention: Thomas Veillon, Michelle MacMahan, William Ray, Enjoli Bush

3rd Place: Piece of My Heart, Ines Alvidres

2nd Place: Let Me Take You Down, Mike Cicioppo

1st Place: Kanchanphon #1 – 2025, Johnny Charles Milich

 

The Rauschenberg Award for the best entry inspired by Port Arthur artist Robert Rauschenberg goes to Grace Mathis for her piece entitled Summer. She will receive a Robert Rauschenberg poster.

“We were very pleased to give each nonadult that attended the reception a memento exclusively sent to us by the Rauschenberg Foundation,” said Museum Curator Robert Fong. These included items that were originally offered in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The items were handed out after the awards ceremony in the Rauschenberg Gallery on the second floor. All 3 items are still available and are for sale in the Museum’s gift shop for a limited time.

Medals, certificates, and $1,050 were distributed to all of the winners. The exhibition will be on display through April 13. Those interested in participating in next year’s contests can visit the MuseumoftheGulfCoast.org website in December of this year. Deadlines are typically around Jan. 20.