Division of the Arts announces award-winning artists
in its annual Delaware State Employee Art Exhibition

Dover, Del. (March 14. 2022) – The talented state employees and their family members were recognized for their artwork exhibited at the eleventh annual Delaware State Employee Art Exhibition sponsored by the National Arts Program^®.

Twenty-nine awards totaling $3,250 in cash prizes were awarded in five categories–Professional, Intermediate, Amateur, Teen (13-18 years old), and Youth (12 years and under). Other distinguished awards included the Best of Show Award, two People’s Choice Awards (calculated by most number of “likes” on Facebook and entries by email and in-person ballot votes at the Gallery), Art Education Award (up to $200 reimbursement for arts instruction and materials), and three Special Award categories. 2022 Artwork can be viewed on Facebook and Flickr.

The artwork pick-up schedule for this week is at the Delaware State University Arts Center/Gallery from March 15 to 19 (no sign up required). Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesday and Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday 12 to 4 p.m.

If there are any changes to the pick-up schedule, the Division will also post any information on our website, arts.delaware.gov, and the Arts Center/Gallery will have recorded messages on its voicemail at 302-857-6697.

Below is a list of all award winners:

2022 National Arts Program Award Winners

Best of Show: Charlese Phillips, Intermediate, Michaela Coel, Mixed Media, Smyrna

People’s Choice Award (Facebook): Chase Puszkarczuk, Teen, Utley, Painting, Wilmington

People’s Choice Award (Ballot): Malcom Allen, Amateur, Expensive Pain, Painting, Newark

Art Education Award: Devin Void, age 8, Youth, Myles the Panda, Works on Paper, Middletown

Special Awards:

          Animal: Lisa Loikith, Intermediate, Pittie Memorial, Painting, Claymont

          Landscape: Drew Johnson, Professional, Herring Point, Painting, Lewes

Portrait: Maia Palmer, Professional, A New Role Model, Painting, Wilmington

Professional:

1st Place: Joseph Arsenault, Hell Hounds, Painting, Rehoboth

2nd Place: Cristen Hess, Fragmented Torso, Sculpture, Newark

3rd Place: Thomas Del Porte, Give and Take, Painting, Wilmington

Honorable Mentions:

           Cindy Morris, The Wind of Uncertainty, Painting, Hockessin

Michael Fleishman, A Bunch of Spare Parts, Sculpture, Milford

Intermediate:

1^st Place: Lisa Morgan, Riveted, Mixed Media, Middletown

2^nd Place: Luis Rios Fontanez, The Hunt for Moby-Dick, Craft, Dover

3^rd Place: David Wolanski, Hope, Photography, Dover

Honorable Mentions:

          Elizabeth Yocher, Reach, Works on Paper, Dover

Kelly Ewing, Beehive, Photography, Newark

Laxmi Verma, The GENESIS, Mixed Media, Wilmington

Amateur:                   

1^st Place: Vittorio Ferrato, Fantasia Numero 1, Mixed Media, Wilmington

2^nd Place: Stephen Beitel, Neptune’s Horse, Sculpture, Dagsboro

3^rd Place: Kelly McMillan Whitaker, Crofter’s Pride, Photography, Newark

Honorable Mentions:

          John Mayer, Neuschwanstein, Craft, Wilmington

Jamie Ahlers, Man’s Best Friend, Photography, Wilmington

Teen (13-18 years old):

1^st Place: Elizabeth Chen, age 17, Cottagecore, Painting, Middletown

2^nd Place: Sophie Rissmiller, age 15, Road Hog, Painting, Coatesville, PA

3^rd Place: Cameron Wright, age 17, I am not a Triangle, Craft, New Castle

Honorable Mentions:

           Ashley Konkle, age 17, Mirrors, Works on Paper, New Castle

Kieara Hill, age 16, Delusional Lockdown, Works on Paper, Townsend

Chloe Hannah, age 17, Delphine, Painting, Frederica

Lelia Sturtevant, age 16, Brown-eyed Girl, Works on Paper, Middletown

Youth (12 years and under):

1^st Place: Lawson Ellis, age 6, My Buddy and Me, Works on Paper, Newark

2^nd Place: Elizabeth Dierkes, age 12, Night Terror, Photography, Clayton

3^rd Place: Adhya Sharma, age 8, Turtle’s Vision, Painting, Bear

Honorable Mentions:

          Camryn Murani, age 6, Unicorn Mermaid Kitty, Works on Paper, Smyrna

Quinton Hattley, age 11, A View from the Top, Painting, New Castle

Scott Honisch, age 12, The Core of a Hymnal, Works on Paper, Wilmington

About the Delaware Division of the Arts
The Delaware Division of the Arts is an agency of the State of Delaware. Together with its advisory body, the Delaware State Arts Council, the Division administers grants and programs that support arts programming, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts, and integrate the arts into all facets of Delaware life. Funding for Division programs is provided by annual appropriations from the Delaware General Assembly and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278.

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Contact: Leeann Wallett, Program Officer, Community Engagement
302-577-8282, leeann.wallett@delaware.gov

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