The sun
came up on May 24 to a bustle of activity for Arts Council Staff and Board, and
it continued long into the evening for the inaugural Work of Art Awards. Nestled
in the New Hazlett
Theater, with its intricate brick interior illuminated by lighting designer
Andy Shick, the celebration honored nine of the artists, lawyers, arts organizations
and businesses that support the arts in our region. Book-ended
by presentations from Mayor Ravenstahl and Governor Rendell, the evening boasted
a full range of performances-from ballet to flamenco and from jazz rifts to circus
arts-ending with an elegant reception party at the Children's
Museum of Pittsburgh. Arts Council CEO Mitch Swain guided the ceremony, and
presenters included Mayor Ravenstahl, Oliver Byrd of Mellon Financial Corporation,
Rhonda Taliaferro of CAPA High School, Patricia Tanner of Calliope: Pittsburgh's
Folk Music Society, and Rosemary Welsh of 91.3 WYEP FM. The colorful glass awards,
presented with photo montages and recorded audio pieces, were kept secret until
the moment of presentation.
The
Mayor's Award for Public Art, which recognizes an individual or organization's
efforts in the development of a public art project that contributes to the economic
development of a Pittsburgh community, was awarded to the Tom Museum.
This dynamic, North Side community art space was created by artist Tom Sarver
to facilitate art exhibitions, workshops and experimentation that engage the local
community in thoughtful and unique ways.The
Chairman's Award is awarded at the discretion of the chair of the the Arts Council board
of directors to an individual or organization that has made considerable contributions
to the region's art community. The inaugural award was presented by Mark Weinstein
to the City of Pittsburgh, for its efforts to integrate the arts
as a valuable component of the city's structure, from the further reduction of
the amusement tax to the creation of the Office of Public Art in partnership with
the Arts Council.
The Award
for Creative Collaboration: Excellence in Audience Development was awarded
to Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival & Wall-to-Wall Studios.
Almost immediately after the festival's establishment as a non-profit, this partnership
developed a recognizable brand identity that captured a rich and vibrant spectrum
of Asian cultures, from Turkey and Iran to Japan and India. Contributing $35,000
of in-kind support, Wall-to-Wall created intricate print and new media designs,
a distinctive logo and a solid marketing strategy that attracted several thousand
film-goers in just the first year.
The
Award for Creative Collaboration: Advances in Capacity Building was awarded
to the Union Project & CMU's Institute for the Management of Creative
Enterprises. Researching cooperative ceramics studios around the country,
the Institute created a credible, well-informed business model for Union Project
Potters, the organization's social enterprise venture. This new model, which
enables the Union Project to reach at-risk youth in a sustainable way, drew national
attention with an article in Ceramics Monthly, and exemplifies "best
practices" for similar ventures nationwide.
The
Arts Educator Award, which honors an individual who is working to support
arts education in the Pittsburgh region, was presented to Robert O'Keefe,
in recognition of his work as principal of Dilworth Traditional Academy from 1998-2006.
By creating ongoing arts experiences for his students and consistently integrating
the arts into his curriculum, O'Keefe transformed Dilworth into Pittsburgh's first
magnet school in 2004-and saw PSSA scores rise in proportion to the increase in
arts focus. With no formal artistic training himself, O'Keefe had the vision to
implement an artistic education resulting in a commitment to learning from students
and parents alike.
The
Volunteer of the Year Award, which is awarded to a participant in the Arts Council's Business
Volunteers for the Arts© or the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts programs,
was presented to Margaret M. Cassidy, Esq. Ms. Cassidy has worked
with many clients over the past year, including sculptors, printmakers, storytellers,
and a folk music society, on issues as varied as labor, copyright, publishing
and contract law.
The
People's Choice Award, which was selected through a public polling process
in partnership with 91.3fm WYEP, recognizes a favorite arts experience of the
past year. It was awarded to Handmade Arcade, an annual bazaar of
crafters held in November at the Construction Junction in Point Breeze.
