Patch Readers Choose The Best Salon 300 Pieces

This year, the hosted its Eighth-Annual Salon 300: Minnesota State Fair Overflow Show—and Hopkins Patch asked you to pick your favorite pieces in the exhibition.

Hundreds of you logged on to share your thoughts. And now—drum roll, please—the winners are:

• First place: “Remote Consciousness” by Dan Zazzera
• Runner-up: “Icelandic Rocks in Rain” by Lester Hughes-Seamans

To recognize their accomplishments, Patch is awarding Zazzera a $100 gift certificate to St. Paul art supply store Wet Paint and Hughes-Seamans a $50 Wet Paint gift certificate.

“Remote Consciousness” by Dan Zazzera

The face in Zazzera’s self-portrait has an almost haunted look that begs explanation. In discussing the piece, Zazzera—an Edina resident and University of Minnesota freshman who wants to pursue a fine arts degree—noted that people show one face in public and another, more genuine, face while on their own. Then he added, “I guess I wasn’t really feeling a huge message behind it. It was more just me trying to paint a realistic-ish portrait of me.”

Perhaps it’s that mystery that drew people to the piece.

Here’s what Patch readers had to say:

• This is an intriguing portrait, conveying a strong psychological impact.
• It’s deep and rocks my socks off. I love it.
• The lighting and shadows were unique and interesting.
• This is a striking portrait, with great use of color.
• I love the detail in the eyes. Very realistic
• There is a lot of feeling in this painting. I feel a connection to this painting.
• It captures Dan well!
• Very dark themed but not too much. Good contrast.
• Moving and showing depth rarely found in this day and age.
• The strength of the message behind the piece captured me
• It caught my eye the first time I saw it. Just loved it from the beginning.
• It clearly shows the creative mind that this artist obviously has.
• Cause it's f---ing sweet.
• It's honest, and impressive from such a young talent!
• I really like how the eyes seem to follow you.

“Icelandic Rocks in Rain” by Lester Hughes-Seamans

Hughes-Seamans was walking along the breakwall in Reykjavík, Iceland, during a pouring rain. She looked out on the water and noticed the beauty of the nearby rocks. The retired Minnetonka High School photo teacher stopped and shot a series of photos, one of which became “Icelandic Rocks in the Rain.” To Hughes-Seamans, the photo offers a glimpse of the country that most people never get to see.

“It just shows the beauty,” she said. “The weather, you never know what it’s going to do.”

Here’s what Patch readers had to say:

• It is very nice to look at. Peaceful.
• It's a beautiful and spiritual image............lovely.
• The rocks are very interesting and colorful.
• It is very beautiful and realistic!
• The serenity of the rocks against the background.
• Wonderful composition, amazing color. This truly lets Nature's artistry shine through.
• It's perfect.
• Attractive, calming and meditative.
• Fabulous contrasts in nature.
• I love the colors and the textures!
• It's raw natural beauty...Gods work...captured splendidly.
• Breath-taking scenery—would love to have hanging in my living room.
• I don't know art but I know what I like. The image so perfectly frames and captures so clearly and crisply what must be an unbelievably beautiful place. A very nice piece of art!
• Lester is a talented photographer and has an eye for the art of the world.
• Beautiful composition and the reflections on the rocks are fantastic!
• Love the mood.
• It's simple and beautiful. It almost seems "other worldly." Nice subject and great composition.
• It just feels right, its what I think Iceland should be like.
• Looks like Heaven!
• The rocks are amazing, liquid-like in appearance. The mountains are luminous. Gorgeous photo!
• I've never seen anything like this; the colors were fantastic!
• The rocks are amazing!! so unreal looking!! I'll have to get to Iceland now.
• I love the textures and how the rocks totally stand out in the foreground.
• I loved all the textures, light, and composition of the photo.