THE DENVER POST-LIVELY ARTS:
Sunday January 17, 1993
Art Critic-Steven Rosen: Denver Post
The Jewish Community Center's Art Zone Juried Competition-Denver, Colorado

Humor appreciated
"Bruce Burkholder, a Kansas painter, shows his abilities with contemporary realism in "Tropical Dream", a large oil-alkyd painting. While some may oppose its sexual stereotyping-a woman at a beach bends over to spread tanning lotion on a man-the couple seems to be a loving one. Besides, I appreciate the humor inherent in a Kansas artist painting a beach scene."
 

1990-Best of Show:
Barton County Community College Juried Competition-Great Bend, Kansas.
Juror-Sharon O'Brien-Josyln Art Museum-Omaha, Nebraska
Great Bend,  Kansas

O'Brien gave the Best of Show award to Bruce Burkholder of Hays, Kansas for his painting in oil/alkyd titled "Illusion and Reality at the DAM." The artist painted his work from a photograph of spectators studying a horizontal nude sculpture as they tour the Denver Art Museum.

O'Brien said she enjoyed looking at the painting because of its photo-realism and its humorous aspects. "Humor is rare in contemporary art and I found this painting arresting for its humor and its overall concept," she said. "The artist has treated the subject seriously technically, but most assuredly there is humor in it. I like the way it was presented."