Twenty Delaware artists receive significant award from the Delaware Division of the Arts

 

Dover, Del. (April 22, 2024) – The Biggs Museum of American Art has opened the exhibition, Award Winners XXIV, marking the 24^th consecutive year of hosting this exhibition in partnership with the Delaware Division of the Arts. Showcasing the exceptional work of Delaware’s Individual Artist Fellowship recipients, the exhibition is on view from April 18 to July 28, 2024. An opening reception, awards ceremony, and public performances were held on April 18 in partnership with Delaware State University at the Schwartz Center for the Arts, a short walk from the Museum.

Each year, the Delaware Division of the Arts recognizes outstanding artists through its Individual Artist Fellowships, offering monetary awards and public recognition. The fellows are selected based on the exceptional quality of their work, creativity, and skill in various art forms. This year, the Division received applications from 149 talented artists across disciplines such as choreography, composition, writing, visual arts, and more.  Their work samples were reviewed by out-of-state arts professionals.

“We are thrilled to host our 24^th Award Winners XXIV exhibition at The Biggs. This year, we have decided to incorporate works by Visual Arts, Folk Art, and Literature fellows on the first and second floors of our museum, interspersed among our permanent collection, to showcase works by contemporary makers in dialogue with museum objects.  It is remarkable to see how artists approach similar themes and techniques across generations.,” said the Biggs Museum Curator, Laura Fravel. “Participating in this annual exhibit allows us to connect with the incredibly talented local artists in our community. This year, we also are fortunate that one of the fellowship recipients, Rebecca Raubacher, has a solo exhibition at The Biggs that coincides with Award Winners XXIV and our visitors will be able to explore her work in greater depth.”  Rebecca Raubacher: Horses & Other Creatures opened on March 14 and remains on view on the museum’s third floor through July 7.

Award Winners XXIV features the work from artists from across the state, including fellowship recipients from Arden, Dover, Lewes, Long Neck, Newark, Rehoboth Beach, and Wilmington.  This year, one fellow was selected in the Masters category, ten in the Established category, and nine in the Emerging category. Their diverse creative expressions will be showcased in this group exhibition, which emphasizes the exceptional talent and artistic vibrancy within the Delaware arts community.

“Each year, the Award Winners exhibition showcases the remarkable talent of Delaware’s Individual Artist Fellowship recipients, offering a vibrant tapestry of creativity and skill across various art forms,” said Jessica Ball, Director of the Delaware Division of the Arts. “It’s inspiring to witness the diverse expressions of our local artists in dialogue with the museum’s permanent collection, highlighting the enduring relevance of art across generations.”

The exhibition will premiere at the Biggs Museum of American Art and subsequently travel to CAMP Rehoboth and the Cab Calloway School of the Arts, creating various opportunities for the public to engage with and appreciate these remarkable works.

The museum is open Thursday through Sunday from 10 AM – 5 PM. For more information, please visit the Biggs Museum website www.theBiggsMuseum.org or contact the museum at 302-674-2111.

 

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Interviews with The Biggs, DDOA or Individual Artists available upon request.

DDOA Contact: Andrew Truscott, Program Officer, Marketing and Communications, 302-577-8280, andrew.truscott@delaware.gov

The Delaware Division of the Arts, a branch of the Delaware Department of State, is dedicated to cultivating and supporting the arts to enhance the quality of life for all Delawareans. 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. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278.

Biggs Museum of American Art Contact: Kerri Lacey, Director of Marketing & PR, 302.760.5305, kerri.lacey@thebiggsmuseum.org

The Biggs Museum of American Art, located in Dover, Delaware, celebrates the rich artistic heritage of the United States through its outstanding collection of American fine and decorative arts. With rotating exhibitions, educational programs, and community collaborations, the Museum aims to inspire a deeper appreciation and understanding of American art. For more information visit: www.theBiggsMuseum.org

Unique program highlights creativity of Delaware state employees

 

Dover, Del. (April 15, 2024) – The Delaware Division of the Arts held the 13^th Annual Delaware State Employee Art Exhibition from February 27 to March 22, 2024 at the Art Center/Gallery at Delaware State University, Dover. This year, 180 State of Delaware employees and their immediate family members submitted artwork and will be competing for awards and cash prizes. Prizes to be awarded include:

• A Best of Show Award of $400
• Adult, Amateur, Intermediate and Professional: First Place Awards of $350; Second Place Awards of $250; and Third Place Awards of $150
• Youth / Teen: First Place Awards of $150; Second Place Awards of $100; and Third Place Awards of $50
• An Art Education Award of $200 for reimbursement for arts instruction and materials
• People’s Choice Award, Facebook and in-person ballot

Additional awards including Honorable Mentions will be awarded at the discretion of the judges. Awards are limited to one cash award per artist per classification.

Sponsored by the National Arts Program in support and cooperation with the State of Delaware and the Delaware Division of the Arts, the exhibit is judged by professional artists and visual art professionals. The Delaware State Employee Art Exhibition is designed to give artists at all skill levels a unique opportunity to exhibit their creative work and to compete for cash prizes.

Participants needed to be a current employee, or immediate family member of a current employee of the State of Delaware. All entries must be the original work of the applicant and completed within the last three years.

The 2024 Delaware State Employee Art Exhibition winners are:

 

Best of Show: Hyo Lee from Dover

Art Education Award: Nathanael Taylor from Milton

People’s Choice Award (Online): Sarah Silves from Dover, DE

People’s Choice Award (In-person): Naomi Smith from Dover, DE

Special Awards

Special Award, Monotone: Casey Williams from Brighton, MA

Special Award, Craft: Maggie Wieber from Denton, MD

Special Award, Nature: Meg Grotti from Hockessin

Special Award, Portrait: Jasmine Davis from Dover

Special Award, Abstract: Raymond Lewis from Wilmington

Professional Category:

First Place: Brianna Shetzler from Clayton

Second Place: Sharif Sadiq from Seaford

Third Place: Joseph Repetti from Newark

Honorable Mention: Alex Mercado from Clayton

Honorable Mention: Yaprak Soysal from Wilmington

Honorable Mention: Rick Burrow from Camden-Wyoming

Intermediate Category:

First Place: Christopher Vasil from Ocean View

Second Place: Elizabeth Chen from Middletown

Third Place: Ashley Holmes from Clayton

Honorable Mention: Dan Friedrichsen

Honorable Mention: Ricki Truitt from Bridgeville

Honorable Mention: Jenesis Prioleau from Smyrna

Amateur Category:

First Place: Cyndi Holbrook from North East, MD

Second Place: Jeff Dorsch from Milton

Third Place: Kelly Nichol from Wilmington

Honorable Mention: Allison Sharp from Wyoming

Honorable Mention: Marcella Little from Bear

Honorable Mention: Emily Keulmann from Newark

Teen Category:

First Place: Kamora Jones from Wilmington

Second Place: Jolene Pham from Townsend

Third Place: EJ Egloff from Middletown

Honorable Mention: Alayna Reese from Townsend

Honorable Mention: Cora Brinson from Middletown

Honorable Mention: Alliyah Gallimore-Prado from Wilmington

Honorable Mention: Bella Burgett from Magnolia

Youth Category:

First Place: Izzabella West from Camden

Second Place: Genevieve Dinsmore from Wilmington

Third Place: Sabrina Rambo

Honorable Mention: Christopher Saxton, Jr from Camden

Honorable Mention: Eric Trzcinski from Middletown

Honorable Mention: Natalie Sturgis from Clayton

Honorable Mention: Audrey Sutton from Wilmington

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Contact: Andrew Truscott, Program Officer, Marketing and Communications

302-577-8280, andrew.truscott@delaware.gov

The Delaware Division of the Arts, a branch of the Delaware Department of State, is dedicated to cultivating and supporting the arts to enhance the quality of life for all Delawareans. 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. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278.

 

Wilmington, Del. (April 1, 2024) – The Delaware Division of the Arts’ Mezzanine Gallery presents E. Schwinn’s exhibition, “Within the Intimate Realm,” on view from April 5-26, 2024. Guests are invited to attend a Meet-the-Artist Reception on Friday, April 5 from 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Schwinn creates patterned collages that incorporate found images, saved fragments, half-finished drawings, abandoned paintings, and collected patterns. Each piece is a gathering of elements that allows her to discover an interior world, coalescing into a type of psychological portrait. Schwinn’s patterns unify the piece but also hide and obscure parts from view.

Schwinn is interested in how we collect experiences and memories and internalize, connect and grow them into a sense of self. The artist explains, “My work is an exploration of identity, how we as humans construct our identities and reveal and hide parts of ourselves. The collages hold clues that can suggest narratives and entice you deeper into trying to understand the meaning, but at the same time, the patterns frequently screen or cover parts of the imagery. For me the work is a metaphor for the process we go through as humans to develop and hide ourselves.”

Schwinn’s personal language has been influenced by both “outsider” art and surrealist processes for tapping into the unconscious mind. She combines fine art composition with patterns, craft materials, and magazines to create pretty images with things hidden below the surface.

Schwinn lives and works in Wilmington. She is also a teaching artist who works with students from preschool aged to older adults. Schwinn holds a BFA in Painting and Printmaking from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a MFA in Painting from the University of Texas at Austin. Read her Delaware Artist Roster profile.

The Mezzanine Gallery, open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., is located on the second floor of the Carvel State Office Building, 820 N. French Street, Wilmington.

Images in the banner: I wanted to transform into the place between the sky and moon, 2023, collage and mixed media on paper, 10.5” x 13.5”

 

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Contact: Andrew Truscott, Program Officer, Marketing and Communications

302-577-8280, andrew.truscott@delaware.gov

The Delaware Division of the Arts, a branch of the Delaware Department of State, is dedicated to cultivating and supporting the arts to enhance the quality of life for all Delawareans. 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. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278.

Hussein named Delaware’s finalist for second consecutive year

 

Wilmington, Del. (March 7, 2024) – Following a spirited competition featuring eleven talented high school students from Delaware, Maiss Hussein, a senior from Paul M. Hodgson Vocational Technical High School, emerged as the 2024 Poetry Out Loud Delaware State Champion. The exhilarating state finals took place on February 29th, 2024, at the Smyrna Opera House. Joelle Caternor from Smyrna High School secured the first runner-up position, while Jono McGarvey from Delaware Valley Classical School claimed the second runner-up title.

This victory marks Maiss as only the third participant in Delaware’s 18-year involvement with the program to secure consecutive wins. Reflecting on her achievement, Hussein remarked, “My first win was unforgettable, but the second time around has left me in awe. It feels like I’m still in shock!”

Hussein’s captivating recitation of “If They Should Come For Us” by Fatimah Asghar earned high praise from the adjudicators. The profound poem can be explored on the Poetry Foundation’s website.

In an ode to Maiss’s exceptional achievement, Jessica Ball, Director of the Division of the Arts, remarked, “Maiss Hussein’s victory is not just a triumph for her, but a testament to the power of poetry to transcend and inspire. We are immensely proud of her accomplishment and look forward to witnessing her shine on the national stage.”

As the 2024 Poetry Out Loud Delaware State Champion, Maiss will be awarded $200 and the esteemed opportunity to compete at the National Finals in Washington, D.C., scheduled from April 30th to May 2nd, 2024. Furthermore, Paul M. Hodgson Vocational Technical High School will receive a $500 stipend for the acquisition of poetry materials. Joelle Caternor, the first runner-up, will be granted $100, and Smyrna High School will receive $200 for its school library.

The Poetry Out Loud state competition, presented by the Delaware Division of the Arts in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, serves as a pivotal platform encouraging high school students to delve into great poetry through memorization, performance, and spirited competition. A recording of this year’s Competition can be found on the Division’s YouTube page.

For further details regarding the competition and a comprehensive list of state finalists, kindly visit our website.

Photo Credit: Sam Wilson, Moonloop Photography

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Contact: Andrew Truscott, Program Officer, Marketing and Communications

302-577-8280, andrew.truscott@delaware.gov

The Delaware Division of the Arts, a branch of the Delaware Department of State, is dedicated to cultivating and supporting the arts to enhance the quality of life for all Delawareans. 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. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278.

The Division will provide up to $200,000 in matching funds to its FY2024 arts organization grantees in conjunction with the event

 

Wilmington, Del. (February 29, 2024) – The Delaware Division of the Arts is proud to support the arts sector through Delaware’s largest day of giving, Do More 24 Delaware, on March 7-8, 2024. Now participating for the fourth year, the Division will provide up to $200,000 in matching funds to its FY2024 arts organization grantees in conjunction with the statewide giving day event. The Division’s “stretch pool” funds will be awarded to grantees who fundraise through the domore24delaware.org website over the 24-hour fundraising period starting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 7 and ending at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 8. Do More 24 Delaware is organized by United Way of Delaware and Spur Impact Association.

Thanks in part to the Division’s support in 2023, Do More 24 Delaware raised more than $2.3 million in 24 hours from 17,000 unique donors supporting 500+ Delaware nonprofits and it is hoping to be just as successful this year, if not more. Division funds will again be allocated to its participating grantees through this year’s Do More 24 Delaware campaign.

Jessica Ball, Director of the Delaware Division of the Arts states, “I encourage the public to invest in the arts and support the cultural vitality of Delaware during DoMore24. Your donation to arts organizations will help the arts thrive and your gift unlocks additional funding for the organizations through a special grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts. Your gifts can shape the future of the cultural sector in our state.”

Charlie Vincent, Executive Director of Spur Impact states, “Having a robust arts and culture sector remains paramount to communities and families throughout Delaware. We are appreciative that the Delaware Division of the Arts supports Delaware’s largest giving day event and the larger effort to raise more awareness and money for these arts organizations and grow the creative economy. Every donation made to one of these arts organizations gets stretched a little further thanks to the Division, and we are excited to see how the larger community rallies in support of their favorite nonprofits again this year.”

To see which Delaware arts organizations are participating in Do More 24 Delaware, or to see the full list of 600+ Delaware nonprofits participating in the fundraising event, people can visit Do More 24 Delaware’s Find a Cause to Support page.

The Delaware Division of the Arts remains committed to supporting the arts and cultivating creativity to enhance the quality of life for all Delawareans. This partnership with Spur Impact, United Way of Delaware, and the Do More 24 Delaware planning team continues to provide a great opportunity to work together in fostering philanthropy in support of the arts.

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About the Delaware Division of the Arts

The Delaware Division of the Arts, a branch of the Delaware Department of State, is dedicated to cultivating and supporting the arts to enhance the quality of life for all Delawareans. 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. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278.

About Do More 24 Delaware

Founded by United Way of Delaware in 2016, Do More 24 Delaware is a one-day event during which nonprofits across the state participate in an around-the-clock friendly competition to raise incremental funds that go directly to participating agencies. In 2019, Spur Impact joined the effort in hosting Delaware’s largest giving day. Nonprofits create their own outreach activities to engage supporters and compete for additional cash incentives funded by corporate and foundation donors. 

 About United Way of Delaware

Founded in 1946, United Way of Delaware (UWDE) works to advance the common good by focusing on three key areas: Grade Level Reading, College and Career Success and Financial Empowerment. UWDE is engaged in a long-term strategy to eliminate the root causes of the most pressing social problems in New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties. UWDE is also responsible for the United Way brand in Salem County, New Jersey. For more information or to support UWDE, visit www.uwde.org, follow us on Twitter @UnitedWayDE, or on Facebook at UnitedWayofDelaware or call (302) 573-3717.

About Spur Impact Association

Spur Impact Association is a Delaware-based nonprofit whose mission is to be the premier hub developing, engaging, and inspiring tomorrow’s leaders by fostering connections with people, nonprofits, and businesses to promote growth personally, professionally, and philanthropically. Spur Impact also hosts #MILLSUMMIT, one of the nation’s fastest growing and largest young professional hybrid conferences held annually. Delaware Gives (DEGives.org), a free online donation platform, is another channel that Spur Impact supports Delaware’s nonprofits.