Creativity and hard work led to rewards for York County artists.

Carol Oldenburg, Jo Margolis and James Crowley won awards during the artist reception Saturday at the 45th annual Art of the State Exhibit at the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg.

The exhibit, open until Sept. 9, consists of 129 works created by 115 artists from 30 counties, including nine artists from York County. Altogether, the museum received 1,836 entries from 680 artists who submitted work for a spot in the exhibit.

Permanent: Oldenburg, of York City, and Crowley, of Dillsburg, both won State Museum Purchase Awards, meaning their creations have been purchased by the museum to be included in the state's permanent collection.

"It's such an honor," said Oldenburg, 56, of York City. "It's a beautiful show with very high-level artwork, so being chosen is just a wonderful, happy thing. It's very nice to have recognition of all the hard work I've been putting in."

Oldenburg won for her painting "Day of Remembrance," which commemorates the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in America.

Crowley won for photography artwork "Abandoned Gymnasium J.W. Cooper School." His creation also won second place -- a prize of $300 -- for the exhibit's photography category.

Crowley could not be reached for comment.

Margolis, 68, of Wellsville, won third place and $200 in the exhibit's works on paper category for "Untitled Rectangle" which features horizontal lines and calligraphic figures designed on very thin paper by use of a technical pen. The artwork is mounted on wood.

Opportunity: Margolis said that while the award validates her years of hard work, she is more grateful that the museum's exhibit offers artists an opportunity to show their work to the public.

"The important part is that people see your work," she said. "Art that is not seen is not communication. (The exhibit) shows how important art is in the quality of our lives."

-- Reach Eyana Adah McMillan at emcmillan@yorkdispatch.com.

The 45th annual Art of the State Exhibit is open at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., Harrisburg.

The exhibit will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and noon to 5 on Sundays until Sept. 9.

Admission is $5 for adults and $4 for children and senior citizens. For information, call (717) 787-4980.