John Adelman, an adjunct instructor of art at Lone Star College-Montgomery, was selected as a finalist for the largest art award in the western hemisphere, the 2012 Hunting Art Prize.

Sponsored by the international oil services company, Hunting PLC, and open to Texas artists only, the Hunting Art Prize (a cash prize worth $50,000) is limited to only drawings and paintings.

Of the more than 1,600 entries submitted and judged, Adelman’s piece—a traced, framed drawing of the dismantled components of a shrub (8,825 parts in total), was one of 105 finalists. The piece, entitled “8,825 parts of a shrub,” was exhibited and sold through Darke Gallery in Houston.

“It is always gratifying to see my work displayed, since wall space whether gallery, museum, or home is at a premium,” said Adelman. “It shows that an individual understands my personal artistic methods of expression.”

This is the second time Adelman has been a finalist for this prestigious award. The first was in 2009 for “49655 nails,” which featured traced nails in a circular form with varying density.

Adelman has worked at LSC-Montgomery for five years. He teaches Art Appreciation (ARTS 1301), Drawing I (ARTS1316), and Drawing II (ARTS 1317).

“I feel the students respond to an individual, regardless of field of study, who is succeeding in that field in the ‘real world,’” said Adelman. “They get insight and perspective directly dealing with the successes, issues, and failures of that field.”

LSC-Montgomery is located at 3200 College Park Drive, one-half mile west of Interstate 45, between Conroe and The Woodlands. For more information about the college, call 936.273.7000, or visit www.LoneStar.edu/montgomery.

With 75,000 students in credit classes, and a total enrollment of more than 90,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area, and the fastest-growing community college system in Texas. Dr. Richard Carpenter is the chancellor of LSCS, which consists of six colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, LSC-Tomball, and LSC-University Park, five centers, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.