West Windsor, N.J. - The Gallery at Mercer County Community College announced the award winners for "Mercer County Photographers" at an Opening Reception Nov. 9. The exhibit, which runs through Dec. 19, features 51 works by 38 photographers who live, work or study in Mercer County. The pieces were selected from 184 entries by 68 photographers. A Winter Solstice Concert will be performed on the show's closing day, starting at 6:30 p.m. The Gallery is located on the second floor of the Communications Building on Mercer's West Windsor campus at 1200 Old Trenton Road.

The juror was photographer and instructor Ricardo Barros. According to MCCC Gallery Curator/Director Tricia Fagan, almost a third of the photographers (22) participated in the jurying process for the first time and 10 of them were chosen to be part of the show. "It's always exciting to welcome newcomers, along with the more established artists," Fagan says. "For many, it's not only their induction into a new life as an exhibiting artist, but also an introduction to Mercer and the terrific photography courses the college offers."

Fagan notes that one of the Gallery's primary missions is to support the vibrant Mercer County arts community and another is to encourage and inspire Mercer students. "Mr. Barros has selected a strong show that moves the dialogue about photography into the 21st century, offering our students and the public some fascinating food for thought," she said.

Winner of the Best in Show was Fame Dileo of Princeton for "Letter to Emma." The two Juror's Choice awards went to Bill Slack of Princeton for "Night Team: Paving" and Fred Everett of Hamilton for "The Last Time I Saw You." Honorable mentions included Beth Amoroso of Hamilton for "Young Adonises," Ilya Genin of Yardley, Pa., for "Soy Cuba #5," Ruth Goodman of Princeton for "Moiré Patterns and Shadows," Frank Magalhães of Princeton for "The Little Mermaid," Eva Meyer of Plainsboro for "Laura," and Barbara Warren of Yardley, Pa., for Despair #6."

The Mercer County Cultural and Heritage Commission presented six Purchase Awards. Awardees included Jay Brandinger of Pennington for "Green Bee on Black-Eyed Susan," Len Ciuffreda of Lawrenceville for "Fall Storm," Kristin Furbeck of Hamilton for "Times Square," Elijah Sabree of Trenton for "Sunrise on Belle," Walt Varan of Ewing for "Lookout," and Samuel Vovsi of Princeton for "Alfama (Old Lisbon)."

The Princeton Photography Club presented its award to Walt Varan for his photograph "Abandoned." Carl Geisler, president of the club, observed that in the five years since Mercer first hosted this photography exhibit, it has become one of the most popular among the club's 220+ members.

This biennial exhibit is a partnership between the MCCC Gallery and the Mercer County Culture and Heritage Commission. The Commission provides support for the exhibit with funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State (a partner of the National Endowment for the Arts) and from the County of Mercer, County Executive Brian M. Hughes, and the Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Regular Gallery hours are Tuesdays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.; and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

For more information, visit the Gallery website here, call 609-570-3589, or email gallery@mccc.edu. ,Directions to the campus and a campus map can be found here.

Gallery Curator Tricia Fagan welcomes photographers and other guests. She is pictured with Carl Geisler, left, president of the Princeton Photography Club, and Nora Ananos of the Mercer County Cultural and Heritage Commission.

Jay Brandinger's "Green Bee on Black-Eyed Susan"