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.

DOVER – DNREC’s Shoreline & Waterway Management Section is holding a “Keep Off the Dunes” signage contest, inviting the public to submit eye-catching and effective original artwork and messaging to remind beachgoers of the importance of protecting Delaware’s vibrant but fragile dune system.

Delaware’s Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay coastal dunes are vital in the state’s defense against coastal storms and extreme weather events. Dunes are also important natural habitats for plants and animals. To keep dunes strong enough to help protect our environment and the ecosystems they support, Delawareans need to protect the dunes by staying off of them. DNREC emphasizes this message by posting beach signs to encourage beach-goers to use provided crossovers along the dune system to avoid damaging the dunes.

For Keep Off the Dunes sign contest rules and additional information, please visit https://de.gov/dunesign. Deadline for entries is Sept. 2. Winners will be announced and their entries displayed at University of Delaware’s Coast Day Oct. 6. The winning artwork in the contest may be reproduced as signs and placed near dunes along Delaware’s coastline.

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 49. No. 169

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

Dover, Del. (March 18, 2019) – The talented state employees and their family members were recognized for their artwork exhibited at the eight annual Delaware State Employee Art Exhibition sponsored by the National Arts Program® reception and award ceremony held on Sunday, March 17. Featured guests and speakers included the First Lady, Tracey Quillen Carney and Delaware Division of the Arts Deputy Director, Kristin Pleasanton.

Twenty-eight awards were given out 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 four Special Award categories. 2019 Artwork is available on Facebook and reception and award ceremony photos will be available on Flickr at the end of the week.

Below is a list of all award winners who were recognized at the 2019 reception and awards ceremony.

2019 National Arts Program Award Winners

Best of Show: Stephanie Silverman, Wilmington
People’s Choice Award (Facebook): Parker Ellis, age 6, Newark
People’s Choice Award (Ballot): Madison Barbuto, age 9, Camden
Art Education Award: Brandi Nichols, age 18, Magnolia

Stephanie Silverman, “Submerged,” Works on Paper, Wilmington

Special Awards

Special Award, Animals: Jocelyn Zonick, age 17, Newark
Special Award, Abstract: Michael Fleishman, Milford
Special Award, Landscape: Anthony Burton, Camden
Special Award, Monochromatic: Justyn Foth, Viola

Professional

1st Place: Robert Palandrani, Wilmington
2nd Place: Chad Cortez Everett, Landenberg, PA
3rd Place: David Huynh, Odessa

Honorable Mentions:
Suzanne Oliver, Wilmington
Shelley Koon, Dover
Daniel Faison, Newark

Intermediate

1st Place: Owen Napier, Wilmington
2nd Place: Bruce Wyngaard, Wilmington
3rd Place: Jacqueline Carmean, Milford

Honorable Mentions:
Brian VanDrunen, Harbeson
Rick Burrow, Camden Wyoming

Amateur

1st Place: Dominick Giroso, Felton
2nd Place: Nicole Brown, Felton
3rd Place: Kathy Joseph, Woodside

Honorable Mentions:
Briana Rodriguez, Townsend
Jake Mottola, Wilmington

Teen (13-18 years old)

1st Place: Emily Torres, age 17, Middletown
2nd Place: Sara Paulish, age 16, Dover
3rd Place: Cathryn Shahan, age 18, Clayton

Honorable Mentions:
Emily Egloff, age 14, Middletown
Allyson Johnson, age 13, Ocean View
Jahsiah Sealy, age 14, Bear

Youth (12 years and under)

1st Place: Caleb Fenton, age 10, Middletown
2nd Place: Elizabeth Dierkes, age 9, Clayton
3rd Place: Mia Ericksen, age 10, Smyrna

Honorable Mentions:
Liliana Gatti, age 7, Wyoming
Lillette Hastings, age 11, Millsboro
Maggie Wieber, age 8, Marydel

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 must 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. View last year’s participant artwork.

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Contact: Leeann Wallett, Program Officer, Communications and Marketing
302-577-8280, leeann.wallett@delaware.gov

DOVER – The public’s art appreciation is sought in voting for favorite entries now online in the 2017 artistic rain barrel contest sponsored by DNREC’s Watershed Assessment and Management Section within the Division of Watershed Stewardship. DNREC sponsors the contest as a fun way to educate the community on the benefits of using rain barrels to reduce stormwater runoff and improve water quality.

Eight local artists and 10 entries from youth or groups of young people were selected to paint creative designs on their rain barrels. Online voting continues through Friday, June 9 for selecting this year’s winning rain barrel artworks.

DNREC chose the artists based on their applications and designs. After being selected, the artists had five weeks to paint and return their barrels. All artistic rain barrels in this year’s contests are now on display for public viewing at the Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village in Dover through July 18.

Five adult finalists and five youth finalists will be determined by online voting. The five student finalists will have their rain barrels displayed to be voted on by Delaware State Fair visitors for determining the grand prize winner, while the adult grand prize winner will be chosen by a panel of judges. Results for the youth rain barrel contest will be announced, and the grand prize winner of the adult contest will be recognized, on Governor’s Day (Thursday, July 27) at the fair.

Following the contest, the artistic rain barrels will be dispersed for display at local events, businesses, schools, churches and with local governments. Businesses, organizations and non-profit groups interested in displaying an artist’s rain barrel, please contact Sara Wozniak at mailto:sara.wozniak@delaware.govor 302-382-0335.

Rain barrels are used to collect and store water from roofs and downspouts for future uses such as watering lawns, gardens, and house plants; cleaning off gardening tools; and washing your car. Rain barrels are also important for the environment because they help reduce water pollution by decreasing the amount of stormwater runoff reaching Delaware’s streams and rivers.

Media contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 47, No. 128

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STATE EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AWARDED HONORS FOR THE NATIONAL ARTS PROGRAM^®: DELAWARE STATE EMPLOYEE ART EXHIBITION

Twenty-eight talented state employees and their family members were recognized for their art work featured in the fifth annual, National Arts Program^®: Delaware State Employee Art Exhibition. The reception and awards ceremony was held at the Delaware State University Arts Center/Gallery on Saturday, March 12, and featured speakers including, Chief Deputy Secretary of State, Richard J. Geisenberger and Delaware Division of the Arts Deputy Director, Kristin Pleasanton.

“This program provides state employees and their family members with an opportunity to show a side that we don’t normally see in the workplace. It clearly demonstrates the range of talented individuals who are working for the state of Delaware,” said Chief Deputy Secretary Geisenberger. “We’re proud to be able to support and recognize the artistic accomplishments of these employees and their families.”

Twenty-eight awards were given out in five categories – Professional, Intermediate, Amateur, Teen (13-18 years old), and Youth (12 years and under), People’s Choice Award (calculated by most number of “likes” on Facebook), culminating in one Best in Show. Seventeen cash prizes totaling $2,600 and 10 Honorable Mention ribbons were awarded. Below is a list of all award winners who were recognized at the reception and awards ceremony.

Images of the artwork and reception & awards ceremony can be found on Flickr.

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2016 National Arts Program Award Winners

 

Best of Show: Luis Rios Fontanez, Dover

People’s Choice Award: Lindsay Mical, Middletown

Arts Education Award: Christopher Volkomer, Frederica

 

Professional:

1st Place: Derek Carlson, Dover

2nd Place: Shawn Faust, Bear

3rd Place: Jason Weaver, Middletown

 Honorable Mentions: Mark Blome, West Grove, PA & William Cox, Wyoming                                                   

 

Intermediate:

1^st Place: Alexandra Duprey, Wilmington

2^nd Place: Bethany Krumrine, Magnolia

3^rd Place: Brian Protack, Greenwood

Honorable Mentions: Melanie Ferrin, Hartly & Leslie Snowdon-Jones, Lewes

 

Amateur:                    

1^st Place: Nancy E. Cooper, Newark

2^nd Place: Dominick Giroso, Felton

3^rd Place: Allison Banbury, Perryville, MD

Honorable Mentions: Elizabeth Lucas, Middletown & Gary Piel, Ocean View

 

Teen (13-18 years old):

1^st Place: Alethia Hicks, age 17, Bear

2^nd Place: Samantha Greim, age 18, Smyrna

3^rd Place: Luana Spalluto, age 15, Dover

Honorable Mentions: Wyatt McMullen, age 13, Middletown & Maylene Ferrin, age 16, Hartly

 

Youth (12 years and under):

1^st Place: Jason Klein, age 10, Landenburg, PA

2^nd Place:  Weston Williams, age 11, Felton

3^rd Place: Brooke Boileau, age 11, Middletown

Honorable Mentions: Sydne Jenkins, age 12, Magnolia  & Maxwell Ferrell, age 6, 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 artsdel.org or call 302-577-8278.

Contact: Leeann Wallett, Program Officer, Communications and Marketing
302-577-8280, leeann.wallett@delaware.gov

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