Bernard Matus Captures Local Wine Label Contest!
Congratulations to Bernard Matus, winner of the First Annual Wine Label Contest!
The St. Mary’s County Arts Council (SMCAC) partnered with the Port of Leonardtown Winery (POL) to host the first of an annual label design contest. The winery is set to celebrate the 15th anniversary of their tasting room and this competition not only creates a unique art label, but it also supports the SMCAC and its programming.
The call for art opened in late 2024 and requested entries capturing the essence of a unique sparkling red variety—also a first for the winery! The limited-run variety (65 cases) will be released at a celebration in June, 2025.
We received an unbelievable 46 submissions from wonderful artists all over southern Maryland.
A team comprised of winery staff and the Arts Council selected the top three designs from which the community voted for their favorite. An astounding number of 800 votes were cast online!
As the First Place winner, Bernie’s design will appear on the special anniversary wine bottle, and he will receive a $500 cash prize. Mr. Matus will attend the winery’s upcoming release celebration, scheduled for First Friday, June 6th, to sign bottles and chat with guests.
Winery visitors can purchase limited edition prints, framed art, and other items to support SMCAC’s fundraising efforts. The Port of Leonardtown Winery will donate 10% of bottle sales to SMCAC. All funds raised support community art-related events, scholarships for high school students, and other SMCAC-sponsored programs.
We also congratulate the 2nd Place winner, Cynthia Martin-Brennan, and 3rd Place winner Lo Hill! Click here to learn more about the original call for art.
A bit about Bernie:
Bernard worked in public education as a teacher and an administrator for many years. Following his retirement in 1997 from public school administration, he found that he had much more time to spend on his lifelong art hobby.
Mr. Matus has exhibited works at a wide variety of shows on the East Coast including Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and New Jersey. In 2015, he presented a solo art show at the former Yellow Door art studio in Leonardtown, Maryland, followed by two more local exhibits at the Community Bank of the Chesapeake and MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital. The hospital show was one of his favorites as it was part of a fundraiser for a new atrium addition.
His work is included in several private and permanent collections ranging from New York to Florida. For the last seven years, Mr. Matus’s work has been chosen to appear in the yearly publication, Photographer’s Forum Magazine.
What’s next?!
Check the POL and SMCAC websites and social media sources for announcements about events planned for June 2025. Click here to sign up for the SMCAC monthly e-newsletter to receive news directly to your inbox!
Save the dates:
Thursday, June 5th - Fundraiser for St. Mary’s County Arts Council, 6-9 PM (VIP hours from 6-7 PM). This will be a ticketed event at the Port of Leonardtown Winery. Additional details to follow and will be announced here.
First Friday, June 6th - 15th Anniversary and Wine Release Celebration hosted by the Port of Leonardtown Winery. Details TBA on the POL website.
Photo of Bernie provided by the artist. Wine bottle photo below featuring designs (L - R) by Cynthia Martin-Brennan, Lo Hill, and Bernard Matus provided by Lauren Zimmerman.
