(AAPNW-OH) – Opening at the Ohio Craft Museum in Columbus with an artist’s reception and awards ceremony, from 1:00-4:00 pm on Saturday, May 1, the “The Best of 2011” features nearly 100 works in clay, glass, metal, wood, fiber and mixed media by 66 artists. Juror Paula Owen, who is the President of the Southwest School of Art in San Antonio, Texas, chose the work from over 300 entries by 125 artists.
“As juror for ‘The Best of 2011,’ presented by Ohio Designer Craftsmen, I was delighted to discover many works that exceeded my ‘horizon of expectation,’” she said. Fourteen artists were chosen for awards for excellence. “In these selections, you will find many works that are visually compelling and some that also express complicated ideas, such as empathy for the human condition, the nature of authenticity, or our shared existential predicament. Each is equally valid, but the range of the artist’s intentions is vast.” The show, which will be on view through June 16, Owen added, “The diverse mix of materials, methods, styles and points of view in this exhibition reminds us all of our own individuality and the artist’s restless and eternal quest to express it.”
The exhibition’s top prize, the $1000 Challenge Award for Excellence went to Bloomington, Indiana artist Randy Long for “Stacked Cluster Brooch”, “Gold and White Cluster Brooch” and “Cluster and Gold Ball Brooch.”
Sherwood, Ohio Michael Kozumplik received the Watkins Printing Poster Award for Excellence for “Will You be Staying or Will You be Flying?” Five artists share the Postcard Award for Excellence this year, who are: Scott Dooley for “Teapot”; Kristi Kloss, “Apiculture, Precious”; Pamela Pastoric, “Remembering Fibula Pin”; and Roberta and David Williamson, “Garden of Dreams.”
Winners of cash awards are: James Mellick, “Mug Whump and Sprout”, Ed Honton Memorial Award for Excellence for Body of Work; Nicholas Althoff, “Tetragon Framework”, Pamela Morris Thomford Award for Excellence in Metals; Stephen Wolochowicz, “Lime Spots Inflation”, “Red Candy Coat Inflation”, “Terra Accordian B. I.”, Jane H. Zimmerman Award for Excellence in Body of Work; Gary Engle, “I Love Cleveland in the Springtime”, Ruth Lantz Award for Excellence in Fiber; Barbara Delaney Keirn, “Incognito”, Lonsway Memorial Award for Humor in Craft; Matthew Paskiet, “Murrini Plate”, Labino Memorial Award for Excellence in Glass; Vanessa Graham, “Rocking Bottle”, Friends of Phyllis Clark Award for Excellence in Functional Ceramics; Sarah Ockuly, “Siren”, Emerging Craftsman Award; and Masako Onodera, “Trouble” for the $1000 Ohio Designer Craftsmen Scholarship Award.
Also during the opening, the Ohio Designer Craftsmen Outstanding Achievement Award will be presented to Julie S. Henahan, Ohio Arts Council Executive Director, and Ken Emerick, OAC’s Individual Artist Grants and Services Director and Percent for Art Program Director, for their dedication to the field of fine craft.
The exhibition will travel to the Southern Ohio Museum to be on view from July 8 through August 27, followed by viewing at Kent State University, October 11–November 11.
For more information, call 614. 486.4402 and to view show online see – www.ohiocraft.org.