MOUNT VERNON— The Knox County Convention & Visitors Bureau, in partnership with the Kokosing Valley Arts Alliance, announces the winners of the 2026 Art at the Park community art competition and exhibition.
The summer exhibition, on display at the CA&C Visitor Center, celebrates the creativity of artists from across the community. The exhibition features artwork from artists of all ages and experience levels, with entries spanning 2-D and 3-D categories. Visitors also had the opportunity to participate in the Community Choice Award, selecting their favorite piece from the exhibition.
“We are excited to recognize these talented artists and celebrate the creativity represented throughout this year’s Art at the Park exhibition,” said Natalie Roth, marketing and development specialist at the CVB.
“One of the most rewarding parts of this project has been seeing artists of different ages and experience levels share their work with the community. These winners represent just a portion of the incredible artistic talent found throughout Knox County.”
2026 Juried Award winners
Pre-K through 8th grade
2-D — Ainsley Stump, “Crab on the Beach”
At just 7 years old, Mount Vernon artist Ainsley Stump already has a strong love for creating art. Ainsley enjoys riding her bike and chasing her dog, and she hopes to become an art teacher when she grows up. Her winning piece, Crab on the Beach, showcases the imagination and creativity that make Art at the Park a celebration for artists of all ages.
3-D — Reagan Stump, “Pop Tart Pillow Collection”
Reagan Stump, 12, of Mount Vernon, brings a playful approach to 3-D art with her Pop Tart Pillow Collection. Reagan loves art, playing volleyball and spending time with her dog, Oakley. Her colorful and imaginative creation adds a fun, unexpected element to this year’s exhibition.
9th through 12th grade
2-D — Brinley Smith, “Dreamland”
Young artist Brinley Smith is exploring the worlds that can be created through paint and drawing. Inspired by science fiction, fantasy and color, Brinley’s work focuses on imagination, emotion and storytelling. She enjoys experimenting with vibrant colors and dreamlike ideas, using watercolor, acrylic and ink, as well as photography and printmaking to bring her ideas to life.
3-D — Lucas Read, “A Silent Watcher”
Lucas Read is beginning his high school career as a mostly homeschooled student while exploring a wide range of interests outside the classroom. The oldest of five siblings, Lucas has played soccer since he was three and enjoys beekeeping, woodworking and building combat robots. His winning 3-D work, A Silent Watcher, reflects the curiosity and hands-on creativity that run throughout his many interests.
Ages 18+
2-D — Kathleen Goode, “Ginkgo”
Kathleen Goode is an interpretive and realistic fiber artist, printmaker and painter whose work is deeply influenced by nature, cultural legends and folklore. Through whimsical and magical imagery, she uses art as a way to tell stories and evoke emotion.
Goode began her art studies at the Art Institute of Chicago before earning a degree in art education from Western Michigan University. She continued her studies in design, color theory and painting at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. Her career began in art education before moving into the corporate design world, where she worked with several design firms in Ohio.
Today, Goode dedicates her time to her artwork and resides in Mount Vernon. As a fiber artist, she color-blends her own fibers and spins them into yarn, creating tapestry weavings, looped rugs and felted sculptures. She also works in reduction lino printmaking and painting, exploring color, texture and storytelling across multiple mediums.
Her winning piece, Ginkgo, reflects her ongoing connection to the natural world and her distinctive approach to combining color, texture and imagery. Her artwork is available at Kudos Art Co-Op.
“My artwork represents my passion and respect for the beauty found in Nature. It is what I see in Nature that lets my Soul know I am paying attention.”
3-D — Dudley G. Thomas, “4-Hole Bowl”
Dudley G. Thomas brings an uncommon perspective to woodworking, shaped by his background in chemistry, lifelong interest in making and self-taught pattern making. Born and raised in Mansfield, Thomas earned a master’s degree in organic chemistry from The Ohio State University. He considers teaching himself pattern making while working in a small factory to be one of his greatest accomplishments, noting that both chemistry and pattern making require the ability to visualize in three dimensions.
A lifelong tinkerer, Thomas has always approached making with curiosity and intuition, often fabricating his own tools when needed. His woodworking is guided by the natural characteristics of the material itself. He seeks out challenging pieces of wood and allows the natural tones, grain and shape of each piece to influence the finished work.
Thomas frequently combines multiple species of locally available wood within a single piece. His aesthetic favors organic forms that curve and flow, intentionally moving away from sharp corners and rigid straight lines.
His winning piece, 4-Hole Bowl, demonstrates this distinctive approach to woodworking, combining technical precision with an intuitive understanding of the material. In Thomas’s hands, wood becomes more than a functional material—it becomes a sculptural form shaped by both craftsmanship and the natural character of the wood.
Community Choice award
The Community Choice Award was selected by those visiting the exhibition, with James Allen Leitz receiving the most community votes for his watercolor painting, Roots of Liberty.
Leitz has been painting with watercolors on and off for approximately 30 years and has pursued the medium consistently for the past decade. He is drawn to watercolor for its challenging qualities and the opportunities it provides for personal interpretation and storytelling.
“Painting to me is a magical portal into another dimension — one of peace, joy, and imagination,” Leitz said.
Leitz paints a wide variety of subjects, choosing a style that best suits his interpretation of each scene. His watercolor journey began in the Lima area through basic lessons and painting with members of the Lima Area Watercolor Society (LAWS). He later continued learning and painting with Artists in the Valley, a group of artists at Apple Valley Lake.
In 2019, Leitz began teaching watercolor lessons at Kudos Art Co-Op and later at The Annex, helping others begin their own watercolor journeys. He has also participated in workshops with nationally and internationally recognized watercolor artists, including Tony Couch, Tim Wilmot, Don Andrews, Christopher Leeper, Dan Marshall and World Watercolor Master Alvaro Castagnet.
Leitz’s artwork is available at Kudos Art Co-Op.
Meet the judges
A panel representing arts education, higher education and the local creative community judged the entries. Judges considered craftsmanship, technique, creativity and the overall process of creating the work when making their selections.
The judging panel included:
- Margaret Allotey-Pappoe — professor of graphic design and division chair, Mount Vernon Nazarene University
- Christina Biggerstaff — art teacher, Mount Vernon City Schools
- Robin Nordmoe — Kenyon College, pottery instructor
The judges brought a range of perspectives and professional experience in art, design and arts education to the selection process, helping recognize artists across each age group and artistic category.