The 18th Annual James Weir People's Choice Exhibition will honour the memory of local artist Sonia Fogel, who died in an October pedestrian accident, by displaying one of her works alongside the entries in the exhibition.

Sandra Hanni, organizer of the contest, said Fogel was a mainstay contributor to the exhibition, winning first place on several occassions, and it was only deserving of her memory to display her art.

"We thought it would be fitting to have one her pieces there as a tribute to her work," she said.

Fogel was on the way to her retirement in Palm Springs, Calif., when she was killed in a pedestrian accident in Perry City, Utah. She is remembered as a supporter of Weyburn's cultural community, and was also a special education instructor at St. Michael Junior High and St. Dominic Savio School.

The deadline for entries for the exhibition has been extended a week from Dec. 15 to Dec. 22. Also, Hanni said the deadline is not set in stone, and entries which arrive slightly late will still be entered.

Hanni said about 15 entries have already arrived, which is about half of the number of entries usually received.

All entries will be exhibited at the Allie Griffin Art Gallery at the Signal Hill Art Centre from Jan. 1-31, 2001. A special reception will be held at the gallery to announce the winner of the competition. The winner is chosen by visitors to the gallery, who cast votes for their favourite work.

The contest, which is intended as a showcase of local artistic talent, is open to artists of all levels and experience, in any medium. Entry forms are available at the Weyburn Leisure Centre, Weyburn Public Library, and the Signal Hill Arts Centre.

The contest is open to artists from the Wheatland Souris Region, which includes the communities of: Weyburn, Stoughton, Radville, Lang, Milestone, Fillmore, Wilcox, Cedoux, Corning, Pangman, Trossachs, Griffin, Ceylon, Goodwater, Minton, Lake Alma, Oungre, Yellow Grass, Colgate, Creelman, Forget, Gladmar, Hardy, Heward, Khedive, Hansworth, Kronau, Lajord, Parry, Osage, McTaggart, Ratcliffe, Talmage, Tyvan, Tribune, Beaubier, Bromhead, Colfax, Davin, Estlin, Froude, Gray, Lewvan, and Maxim.