Bluffton artist Gregg Luginbuhl's ceramic work, Rustic Decanter XXIV, has received the Collector's Choice Award for Excellence in Fine Craft in The Best of 2012 exhibition, which opened at the Ohio Craft Museum, Columbus, Ohio, on May 6.

Lloyd E. Herman, founding director of the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, honored 12 artists with awards for excellence in Ohio Designer Craftsmen's 29th annual juried members' competition, "Best of 2012." Opening May 6 and continuing through June 24 at the Ohio Craft Museum, the exhibition features 100 works in clay, glass, metal, wood, fiber and mixed media by 94 artists-all chosen by Herman from over 316 entries. Ohio Designer Craftsmen has over 2,000 members.

"The objects made by Best of 2012 entrants reflect a diversity of attitudes and styles, traditional as well as somewhat revolutionary in attitude and process/material," Herman said. "There are superb examples of classic silver tablewares and thrown and fired ceramics, but surprisingly little furniture. Old techniques like feltmaking and paper casting that were revived in recent years are included here along with digital technology in designing-and making-new works."

Award winners were honored during the exhibition's opening reception, held May 6 in the Ohio Craft Museum's refurbished gallery space from 1 to 4 p.m.

After closing at the Ohio Craft Museum, the exhibition will travel to the Wayne Center for the Arts in Wooster, where it will be on view July 12-Aug. 18, then on to Fitton Center for Creative Arts in Hamilton, Ohio, where it will be shown Sept. 14-Nov. 9.

The Ohio Craft Museum is located at 1665 W. Fifth Ave., Columbus. Hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 1-4 p.m., during exhibitions only. Admission and parking are free. Telephone (614) 486-4402, or see our website www.ohiocraft.org, for further information.

An audio tour of the exhibition is available on the website. The museum is owned and operated by Ohio Designer Craftsmen and receives ongoing funding from the Greater Columbus Arts Council, Ohio Arts Council and the Columbus Foundation.