Carmen Luna wins WARA competition in Great Falls

Carmen Luna wins the 2019 Western Artists Rodeo Association (WARA) competition on March 22-23, held at the Holiday Inn, Great Falls in conjunction with the annual Western Heritage Artists Show, of which she is participating artist.

The WARA is a group of western artists, art enthusiasts and business professionals looking to revitalize the Western Art Industry by providing artists new innovated opportunities to get their work recognized by competing in Art Rodeos – The World's First Art Sport. It's an amazing opportunity for artists because every artist is guaranteed center stage to tell about their artwork. It's called an Art Rodeo because of the format of the competition. At these Rodeos, artist compete with their best completed artwork for prize money and awards.

This was a two-day, live competition with a Rodeo Announcer, cheering audience and live scoring; just like a rodeo. The artist brings their artwork onto the stage, a live rodeo announcer interviews the artist, while the judges score the piece based on 17 principles of art.

Carmen competed in the two-day event along with 29 other artists. On day one, Carmen received the highest score for her original carving of a Snowy Owl perched on a wagon wheel which was also carved by her. On day two she received the highest score for her carving of a Western Meadowlark perched and signing atop a bison skull. The skull was so realistic the judges thought it was a real bison skull. Carmen's combined two-day score topped all the other artists to win the jackpot and a gold belt buckle.