KAHULUI, Hawaii (KHON2) -- The Maui Arts and Cultural Center announced the winners of two art contests on March 18, with the winners being awarded a cash prize courtesy of the Eugene and Ruth Freedman Family Foundation. The two contests include the Ruth Freedman People's Choice Award, an award de termined by popular vote of gallery visitors, and the Gene Freedman Artists' Choice Award, which is a new addition to the challenge with the winner selected by a vote of all 40 exhibited artists. Get Hawaii's latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Maui artist Jett Green won the Ruth Freedman People's Choice Award for her portrait of Maui resident Lili Townsend titled "Lili's Gift, the Beauty of a Lifetime." Ruth Freedman People's Choice Award Winner Jett Green, right, with subject Lili Townsend in front of "Lili's Gift, the Beauty of a Lifetime." (Courtesy: MACC) "Jett's painting engages the viewer with striking photorealism in the features of Lili's face, surrounded by a fantastical menagerie of colors and symbols that speak to her vibrant personality and the stories of her life's journey shared between portrait sitter and artist," said Gallery Director Jonathan Clark. "The portrait has a magnetic quality to it. We've seen visitors entranced by Lili's gaze each day in the gallery." The Gene Freedman Artists' Choice Award went to Damian Smith of Maui, who serves as the inaugural recipient of the award. His work, "Aliʻi of Hoʻokipa," portrays resident John Kalei Matthew Hoʻopai. Gene Freedman Artists' Choice Award Winner Damian Smith, right, and subject John Kalei Matthew Hoʻopai in front of "Aliʻi of Hoʻokipa." (Courtesy: MACC) "Damian honors his subject Kalei, illuminated by the golden light of sunset at his familiar Hoʻokipa pavilion seat and flanked by an expansive panoramic composition of the North Shore that intertwines both person and place," Clark said. "A frequent plein air painter, Damian worked on this three-panel painting on-site at Hoʻokipa over the course of the summer, getting to know Kalei through talk story, shared meals and surfing." Find more Hawaii, Oahu, Maui and Kauai news here The portraits were part of the Schaefer Portrait Challenge, a triennial statewide juried art competition, which also serves as a signature exhibition of Schaefer International Gallery since 2003. This round marks the eighth edition of the competition and featured 40 artists from across the islands. The exhibition continues in Schaefer International Gallery at Maui Arts and Cultural Center until March 22. ...read more read less