The Ellen B. McKinnon Memorial Award
Ellen B. McKinnon lived in Ocean View in the mid-20th Century and began exploring her love of art, particularity painting, late in her life. She enthusiastically joined the Chesapeake Bay Art Association while in her 60's and, in the 1950's, was the oldest woman (at the time) ever accepted to Pratt Art Institute in New York. Due to an unfortunate accident that occurred in New York prior to her starting at Pratt, she never got to experience a formal art education, but her skills were well known both in the community and her family.
This award, started by Ellen McKinnon's daughter and former Food Editor of the Ledger Star/Virginian Pilot, Grace M. Sumner, is always presented to a novice artist who has never won an award. This award is unique to our show and is meant to encourage new artists who are often exhibiting for the first time. This prestigious award is always a favorite among the artists in our show each year and was continued after Mrs. Sumner's passing by her daughter, Ellen Sumner Vecchietti and then by her daughters, Cheryl and Stacie Vecchietti, after her passing. Hugh Vecchietti McFarlane, Stacie's son, is the 4th generation of the family to be involved in selecting the winner and plans to proudly continue the tradition as long as CBAA is willing to have it be a part of the Ocean View Art Show.