Twenty-one talented state employees and their family members, recognized for their works of art as the results of the National Arts Program®: Delaware State Employee Exhibition and Contest II, were announced on Saturday, March 2. Approximately 400 people attended the Opening Reception. Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock and Division of the Arts Director Paul Weagraff presided over the awards ceremony. Jackie J. Szafara, Executive Director of the National Arts Program®, was on hand to congratulate the winners.

In his remarks, Secretary Bullock commended the state employees and families members who contributed to the exhibition and thanked Delaware State University for this important partnership. He noted how this kind of exhibition reinforces the value of the arts and reflects the Governor’s commitment to a rich cultural environment contributing to our quality of life in Delaware.

Mr. Weagraff commented, “This exhibit allows us to see a side of our colleagues that we don’t often have an opportunity to witness in the workplace. It really heightens our awareness of how much of a role the arts play in so many lives.”

Twenty-one awards were announced in five categories – Professional, Intermediate, Amateur, Teen (13-18 years old), and Youth (12 years and under), culminating in one Best in Show. Sixteen cash prizes totaling $2,400 were awarded by the National Arts Program®. A list of winners and Honorable Mentions is below.

Two-hundred-eight employees of Delaware state agencies and their immediate family members submitted artwork for the 2013 exhibition and contest. The participating artists came from across the state (over half from Kent County) and represented 74 state agencies and 85 were returning participants.

The exhibition will be on view on in the Arts Center/Gallery at Delaware State University through March 20. Hours for viewing are Monday through Friday from 9:30 am – 3:00 pm with special hours between March 8 and 15. Visit www.artsdel.org for details.

Judges for the contest were Jennifer Gunther, Director Arts Center/Gallery, Delaware State University; Ryan Grover, Curator, Biggs Museum of American Art; Pat Staby, artist; and Steve Rogers, artist. At their discretion, the judges awarded five Honorable Mention ribbons.

The Delaware Division of the Arts is proud to be the local sponsor of The National Arts Program®, an organization established in 1982 to identify, showcase, and reward the visual artistic talent in America. The National Arts Program® currently sponsors 82 annual programs, encompassing more than 450 cities and counties within 38 states.

The award winning artwork can be viewed on Flickr. To view a complete set of all 208 art works, visit the Division’s Facebook page or view the artwork on Flickr. The image with the most likes on Facebook on March 21 will be named the “People’s Choice.”

BEST IN SHOW ($300):
Robert Palandrani
Artist Category: Professional
Wilmington

PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY:
1st Place ($300)
Diane Laird
Middletown

2nd Place ($200)
Cristen Hess
Newark

3rd Place ($100)
Mindi Schultze
Lewes

Honorable Mention
Shari Dierkes
Clayton

INTERMEDIATE CATEGORY:
1st Place ($300)
Kaitlyn Malloy
Clayton

2nd Place ($200)
Mary Wagner
Frederica

3rd Place ($100)
Melanie Ferrin
Hartly

Honorable Mention
Ron Wilson
Wilmington

AMATEUR CATEGORY:
1st Place ($300)
Christopher Portante
Wilmington

2nd Place ($200)
Denise Powell
Lincoln

3rd Place ($100)
Christopher Jones
Wilmington

Honorable Mention
Lisa Lindsay
Milton

TEEN CATEGORY (13-18 years old):
1st Place ($75)
Casey Williams
Wilmington

2nd Place ($50)
Valerie Limmina
Wilmington

3rd Place ($25)
Grace Coury
Magnolia

Honorable Mention
Maylene Ferrin
Hartly

YOUTH CATEGORY (12 years & under):
1st Place ($75)
Thomas Krumrine
Magnolia

2nd Place ($50)
Carson Mears
Seaford

3rd Place ($25)
Myles Pleasanton
Dover

Honorable Mention
Ben Horenstein
Wilmington

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