Local artist Susan Ballenger has won a Juror Award in the Contemporary category of the PBS KVIE Art Auction for her acrylic painting "Underwater Rocks." Her work will be among over 270 original pieces featured in the 44th annual Art Auction, broadcast live on KVIE Channel 6 and streamed online from October 3–5, 2025. The event allows viewers to bid on artwork, with proceeds supporting PBS KVIE’s local productions and outreach programs. Ballenger previously won an award in the same auction in 2021 for her piece "Reach for the Heights."
The story matters because it highlights the role of regional public media in supporting local visual artists and sustaining arts programming amid funding challenges. The auction not only provides exposure and financial reward for artists like Ballenger but also directly funds PBS KVIE’s educational and cultural content across 28 counties in Northern California. It underscores the ongoing connection between community art, public broadcasting, and grassroots arts patronage.