“FALSE IMPRESSIONS”: Mikhail Gubin’s surrealist painting won the Doug Palmer Award for Best in Show, Overall, in the “Ellarslie Open 37/38” exhibition at the Trenton City Museum. Five galleries are filled with 136 works by 126 artists in the show, which runs through October 3.

Thirty-four of the 126 artists with works showcased in the “Ellarslie Open 37/38” at the Trenton City Museum received prizes across 10 categories and six special designations.

“I was deeply impressed by the range of work and diversity of artists who submitted for consideration,” said Juror William R. Valerio, director of the Woodmere Art Museum of Philadelphia. “There was much excellence, and it was a challenge to narrow the field. Awarding prizes was even harder.”

Mikhail Gubin of Queens, N.Y., who won the Doug Palmer Award for Best in Show, Overall, for his surrealist painting False Impressions said, “It was a complete surprise for me, because there were so many wonderful works on display at the exhibition.”

Top category winners were Digital: Matthew Borgen, Philadelphia; Drawing: Morgan Shankweiler, Swarthmore, Pa.; Fiber Arts: Edward Babiarz, Sinking Spring, Pa.; Mixed Media: Mary McKay, Keyport; Painting: Tian Hui, South Orange; Pastels: Jacqueline Meyerson, Macungie, Pa.; Printmaking: Marc Schimsky, Yardley, Pa.; and Watercolor: Mark Schreiber, Chalfont, Pa.

Morgan Shankweiler of Swarthmore, Pa., who won the Priscilla Snow Algava “Find Beauty Everywhere” Award for Best in Show, Drawing, said, “The art that filled Ellarslie was an absolute feast after such a long time without gallery events, and I was incredibly surprised and honored to be given an award.”

The show’s chair and curator, Joyce Inderbitzin, said, “All of the artists used their talents and ideas to give expression to their insights on their chosen subject matter. While some of the pieces were chosen as prize winners, all of them command our attention.”

Exhibition organizers awarded the President’s Award to Susan Parris, Princeton; Curator’s Award to Patricia Hutchinson, Long Branch; Ben Whitmire Emerging Artist Award to Vincent Bush, Philadelphia, Pa.; Phoenix Art Supplies First-time EO Exhibitor Award to Christine Fortin, College Park, Md.; Installation Award to Aurelle Sprout, Lambertville; and Stephen Bruce Award for Achievement in Unique Media to Asya Dodina and Slava Polischuk, Brooklyn, N.Y.

The “Ellarslie Open,” sidelined in 2020 by the pandemic, returned this year to fill five galleries with 136 artworks by 126 artists. It is on view through October 3, with related artist and curator talks to be announced in the summer and early fall.

The Trenton City Museum is housed in Ellarslie Mansion in the heart of Cadwalader Park. Museum hours are Fridays and Saturdays from 12 to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. The museum offers timed entry for visitors. Parking is available. There is no admission charge, but donations, which support the museum’s mission and programs, are appreciated.

For more information, visit ellarslie.org or call (609) 989-1191.