By Marisa Dawson, Courtesy Photos
The creativity of local artists was on full display this spring as the annual art show promoted by both the Bennington Woman’s Club and the Bennington Public Library reached record participation numbers and produced award-winning results at both the district and state levels.
According to librarian Natalie Hartley, the event continues to grow each year, both in participation and community excitement. “Honestly, each year we are surprised by the number of participants and the range of artwork we received,” Hartley said. “It’s really exciting to see artists of all ages and experience levels wanting to be part of it! Every year the show grows a little more, and it’s become something the community genuinely looks forward to.”
This year’s show featured a record-high 63 pieces of artwork. Of those, 44 pieces advanced to the district contest in Bellevue, where Bennington artists earned 38 ribbons ranging from first through fourth place. Among those awards were 19 first-place finishes and two Best in Show honors, awarded to Khyaati Misra (below, left) and Maeta Andersen (below, right).
Hartley said the event has become much more than an art competition, helping strengthen community connections through creativity and collaboration. “Programs like this give people a chance to connect with each other differently,” Hartley said. “It’s fun to see local talent celebrated. The art show creates a space where people can come together, support one another, and feel proud of their community. The more it grows, the more opportunities people have to get involved.”
The library partners with the Bennington Woman’s Club to host the annual show, something Hartley described as a meaningful community effort. “A big part of the library’s mission is strengthening community connections, and this partnership is a perfect example of that,” Hartley said. “Working with the Woman’s Club allows us to create something that brings people together and gives them a chance to participate, share their creativity, and support local artists. It’s really become a community effort, which is what I love most about it.”
One of the standout winners this year was 4th grader Khyaati Misra (pictured below), whose painting of a ladybug earned Best in Show at districts and later went on to win first place at the state competition during the NFWC State Convention held April 9–10 in Lincoln.
Misra said she was overwhelmed with excitement when she learned she had earned the top district honor. “I felt excited when I found out I won Best in Show,” Misra said. “I was looking around to see who won, and when I saw my name, I started jumping because I was so happy. I had never won Best in Show before, so it felt very special.”
Her award-winning piece featured a colorful ladybug inspired by a simple moment with her mother, Garima Misra. “My artwork is a painting of a ladybug,” Misra said. “One day, my mom and I were looking for something fun to paint, and when I saw the ladybug, I thought it looked really cute. Ladybugs are one of my favorite insects, so I decided to paint one.”
The piece took approximately two hours to complete, including drying time. Misra said she hoped viewers would walk away feeling happy after seeing the painting and notice the bright colors and detailed elements within the artwork.
Although still young, Misra said her love for art began years ago. “Yes, I have liked art for a long time,” she said. “When I was about six years old, I liked drawing pictures of myself and my baby sister. Even though my drawings were not perfect, I still loved making art.”
She also credited her mother as her greatest artistic inspiration. “My mom inspires me the most,” Misra said. “She used to paint pictures all the time, and I thought they looked really beautiful. Watching her create art made me want to learn and be creative too.”
Misra added that representing Bennington in the competition made the achievement even more meaningful. “It feels really nice to represent Bennington in this competition,” she said. “Sometimes people do not know where Bennington is, so it makes me proud to share something special about my town and represent my community.”
Hartley said seeing both returning and first-time artists participate each year is one of the most rewarding parts of organizing the show. “We love seeing how excited people are to share their work and support each other,” Hartley said. “It’s especially fun to see returning artists come back every year and to watch new artists join in for the first time.”
She added that partnerships with local schools and organizations continue to help the event thrive. “We also love partnering with local schools and community organizations like the Bennington Woman’s Club to make the event possible,” Hartley said. “It really shows how much the community values creativity and coming together to support one another. There’s such a positive energy around the whole event, and it’s rewarding to see how much it means to the community.”
Following the state competition, the artwork remained on display at the Bennington Public Library through the end of April, allowing community members additional opportunities to view and celebrate the accomplishments of local artists.
