If you’re a fan of Rosewood Gallery’s annual HWD show, then this year’s sixth-annual exhibit won’t disappoint. Be prepared to be intrigued, amused and visually entertained. Juror Valerie Mann chose 39 works by 27 sculptors from a pool of 91 pieces by 38 artists from Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Kentucky.

“As sculptors, we’re so very fortunate to have a professional venue such as Rosewood Gallery that focuses solely on three-dimensional work for one of its annual shows,” said Mann, an artist, educator and art activist from Saline, Mich. (HWD refers to “height by width by depth.”)

She designated a total of $1,100 in United Art and Education Awards to the winning artists, with her bottom line being a high standard of craftsmanship.

Best of show went to Brett Kern of Elkins, W. Va. His sense of play is alive and well in “Inflatable Dinosaur Series: T-Rex Blue, Stegosaurus Red, and Triceratops Celadon.” The sculpted reptiles appear to be blown-up plastic toys; in reality they are made of slip-cast clay. He constructed intricate seams, a bronze-colored stopper and a signed moniker on each.

The first place nod went to David Marquez of Bowling Green for his bronze sculptures “Chew 3Way” and “Fetish.” The first resembles a doggy chew toy.

Shon Walters of Dayton won second place for “Spermicidal Maniacs.” The installation consisted of three white panels covered with a frenzy of macro-sized, wooden treasure hunters racing diagonally upwards.

Third place was awarded to Chuck Sharbaugh of Holly, Mich., for “Pivots and Rows.” Listed for $38,000, it was labor-intensive, with the wooden cabinet constructed to mimic the images within.

“I was pleased to see such a diverse array of materials and techniques used … in the show. I was treated to moments of sheer delight as I flipped through all the images of work submitted by artists,” said Mann. “The combination of forms and choices of materials to represent an idea, the humor and emotion that came through the work, all combined to make the entire jurying process fun and rewarding.”

Honorable mentions were given to two artists, Robert Bielat of Ferndale, Mich., and Lauren Strahl of Slippery Rock, Pa. Bielat’s subject was river locks made with bronze and steel bi-metal casting on a limestone base. “River Locks (Phi)” and “River Locks (Psi)” were made to look aged and corroded by time.

Strahl’s subject matter was more of the domestic variety. She imagined a wooden refrigerator covered with fabric for “359 Thomas Road Fridge.” It is presented complete with food items inside — like fabric olives inside a cloth jar. Her “359 Thomas Road Side Board” is just as whimsical, with a fabric phone, light stand and waste basket.

Gallery coordinator Amy Anderson said, “Mann selected a wide variety of works, with super-traditional figurative work, and some really crazy conceptual pieces. It makes for a very exciting show.”

Other local artists in the show are Douglas Atkinson, Robert A. Coates, Matthew R. Burgy, Aaryn N. Combs, Bill Danzig, Marianne Engle, Ron Hundt, Adam Redding, Alice Robrish and Alice Bordenkircher Tavani.

“If the pieces entered in this show are any indication, I’d say our Midwest regional artists are keeping culture alive and, indeed, driving it forward,” said Mann. “I was invigorated by looking through all of the entries.”