Twenty-one talented state employees and their family members were recognized on March 8, 2014 for their works of art as the results of the National Arts Program®: Delaware State Employee Exhibition and Contest III. More than 300 people attended the Opening Reception at Delaware State University. Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock and Division of the Arts Director Paul Weagraff presided at the Awards Ceremony.

In his remarks, Secretary Bullock commended the state employees and families members who contributed to the exhibition and recognized the high level of artistic achievement. 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.” In addition, he thanked Delaware State University for this important partnership.

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®.

Two hundred sixty-three employees of Delaware state agencies and their immediate family members submitted artwork for the 2014 exhibition and contest. The participating artists came from across the state and represented 78 state agencies. And 63 were returning participants.

Judges for the contest were Lorraine Polling, Retired Art Educator and Artist; Marc Clery, Professional Photographer; and Paul Shertz, Wildlife 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 exhibition will be on view in the Arts Center/Gallery at Delaware State University through March 17. Hours for viewing are:

Monday – Friday, March 10-14 from 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 15 from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Monday, March 17 from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

To view a complete set of all 263 art works, visit the Division’s Facebook page or view the artwork on Flickr. The image with the most likes on Facebook will be named the “People’s Choice.”

BEST IN SHOW ($300):
Faith Kuehn
Wilmington

PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY:
1st Place ($300)
Robert Palandrani
Wilmington

2nd Place ($200)
Shanna O’Leary Weiss
Bear

3rd Place ($100)
Shelley Koon
Lincoln

Honorable Mention
Aaron Paskins
Dover

INTERMEDIATE CATEGORY:
1st Place ($300)
Luis Rios Fontanez
Dover

2nd Place ($200)
Melanie Ferrin
Hartly

3rd Place ($100)
Eric Enck
Georgetown

Honorable Mention
Christina Whiteman
Middletown

AMATEUR CATEGORY:
1st Place ($300)
John Fitzgerald
Claymont

2nd Place ($200)
Victoria Moore
New Castle

3rd Place ($100)
Tammy Jefferson
Camden

Honorable Mention
Meghaan Carter
Media, PA

TEEN CATEGORY(13-18 years old):
1st Place ($75)
Kristen Ball
Magnolia

2nd Place ($50)
Luke Martin
Greensboro, MD

3rd Place ($25)
Lauren Gaston
Smyrna

Honorable Mention
Alyssa Ortiz-Rivera
Smyrna

YOUTH CATEGORY (12 years & under):
1st Place ($75)
Abigail Bucklin
Rehoboth Beach

2nd Place ($50)
Dylan Drace
Seaford

3rd Place ($25)
Katharine Whitelock
Seaford

Honorable Mention
Alex Krumrine
Magnolia

The Delaware Division of the Arts Mezzanine Gallery will present an exhibition titled George Lorio from March 7-28, 2014. The Gallery, open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., is located in the Carvel State Office Building, 820 N. French Street, Wilmington. There will be a reception to meet the artist on Friday, March 7, 2014 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. as part of Wilmington’s Art Loop.

This solo exhibition of Lorio’s work will showcase a selection of original works. George Lorio is the recipient of a 2013 Individual Artist Fellowship in Sculpture from the Delaware Division of the Arts.

His work draws on the political and cultural climates found in the communities which surrounded him during his youth in New Orleans and the decade he recently spent near the United States border on the Rio Grande.

In his sculpture, Lorio deploys material and ideological contrasts to develop a narrative of social concern and instigate societal dialogue. His subject matter engages some of the most prevalent issues in contemporary culture and political debate. Influenced by the cultures of the American South and Southwest, his material expressions are a sophisticated play of found objects and sculpted forms.

His interest in form, color, and artifact combine to produce works with unique expressive qualities which manifest themes of broad reaching inquiry, interest, and impact. Humor also plays a role in some of the work. Lorio, a Dover resident, teaches art at Delaware State University.

To read an article about Lorio, visit the Division’s Individual Arts Fellowship web publication.

The Delaware Division of the Arts announces the awarding of $2.9 million in grants for Fiscal Year 2014 to support 109 arts initiatives throughout the state. Twenty-three communities across Delaware, from Claymont to Selbyville, will receive grants to support arts programming and services, arts education, and related arts marketing and promotion.

The creation of a new Delaware Arts Trust Fund this year recognizes the importance of the arts as an economic driver, and brings Delaware’s public sector support for the arts closer to the national average of 8% of the revenue for nonprofit arts organizations. Working together to achieve this, the Department of State, Governor’s Office, and Joint Finance Committee acknowledge that this investment in the economy results in significant returns in both state and local revenues, as indicated in the Americans for the Arts study, Arts & Economic Prosperity IV, released in 2012.

“The state’s investment in the arts makes good business sense because the industry plays a critical role in Delaware’s economy,” said Secretary of State Jeff Bullock. “As one of the state’s top ten employers, we know that Delaware’s nonprofit arts sector generates more than $142 million annually in economic activity in the state and supports nearly 3,900 full-time equivalent jobs.”

“We understand that investment in the cultural life of our communities strengthens our economy, attracts and retains businesses, and provides a valuable resource to our students,” said Governor Jack Markell. “A vibrant cultural community supports an enhanced quality of life for all of us, as well as a thriving tourism industry for our visitors.”

Division grants support a variety of projects and programs, from storytelling for preschool reading readiness, to professional performances in dance, theater, and music. Delaware museums and art leagues in large and small communities alike receive support for internationally recognized collections as well as local artists and artisans.

“A record number of applicants in this year’s funding cycle confirm the ongoing breadth and depth of arts activity in Delaware. The quality of arts programming remains high, at a time when organizations are striving to build sustainable models based on collaboration, innovation, and coordinated programming,” said Paul Weagraff, Division Director.

Funding for the Division of the Arts to support arts programming in Delaware comes from the Delaware General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Click here for a complete listing of Fiscal Year 2014 grants.

Sonja Frey will present an exhibition titled The Intentional Accident in the Delaware Division of the Arts Mezzanine Gallery from July 5 – 26, 2013. The Gallery, open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., is located in the Carvel State Office Building, 820 N. French Street, Wilmington. There will be a reception to meet the artist on Friday, July 5, from 5-8 p.m. as part of Wilmington’s Art Loop.

This solo exhibition of Sonja Frey’s work will showcase a series of collage paintings which focus mainly on the sole objective of beauty. Frey’s paintings are spontaneous: each part of the process, applying acrylic paint or collaging the surface, is initiated by instinct, not by detailed planning. The artist intends for the viewer to react emotionally, visually and physically to the complex surfaces of her work.

Frey earned her BFA in Graphic Design from Beaver College (now known as Arcadia University) in Glenside, PA. After taking her first painting workshop in October of 2004, she immediately fell in love with the vibrant colors and techniques of painting with acrylics and collage. The artist currently works full time as a graphic designer.

The Delaware Division of the Arts has announced the Fiscal Year 2013 winners of its Individual Artist Fellowship (IAF) grants. Seventeen individual Delaware artists are being recognized for the high quality of their artwork in the visual arts, literature, music, jazz performance, choreography, and folk arts. Artists were selected from towns throughout the state including Bear, Dover, Harbeson, Lewes, Lincoln, Milford, Milton, Newark, and Wilmington. Their work ranged from photography and sculpture to playwriting and choreography.

The work of 85 applicants was judged by arts professionals from around the country. Through the IAF grants, the artists’ achievements are affirmed, helping provide the recognition and exposure that artists need to successfully promote their work. The artists receive a financial award—$3,000 for the Emerging category and $6,000 for the Established category—allowing them to pursue advanced training, purchase equipment and materials, or fulfill other needs that allow them to advance their careers. The public will have an opportunity to see the varied artwork by these artists as they are required to have a public exhibit or performance showcasing their work in the upcoming year.

Listed below are the Delaware Division of the Arts 2013 Individual Artist Fellows. Contact information for the artists may be obtained by calling Kristin Pleasanton, the Division’s Art and Artist Services Coordinator, at (302) 577-8284 in Wilmington or (302) 736-7436 in Dover.

2013 INDIVIDUAL ARTIST FELLOWS

The next deadline for Individual Artist Fellowships applications is August 1, 2013.

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 artists and arts organizations, 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 State Legislature, and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.