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.
