Carol Tippit Woolworth, Individual Artist Fellow in Paintings, will present an exhibition titled En Colour, in the Delaware Division of the Arts Mezzanine Gallery from June 7-28, 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, June 7 from 5-8 p.m. as part of Wilmington’s Art Loop.

This solo exhibition of Carol Tippit Woolworth’s work will showcase a series paintings completed after a recent trip to France. Many of the paintings focus on the unseen beauty of trees. Tippit Woolworth attempts to capture an intense moment, a scene, a certain light, colors arranged in such a way that extract an emotion from the viewer. She searches for beauty in the familiar, which is unseen until revealed by the painting.

Delaware Individual Artist Fellow in Painting, Carol Tippit Woolworth, graduated from UC Santa Barbara and later went on to study at Parsons, New York. The Wilmington-based artist has exhibited her work locally and regionally. She currently works as a painter, graphic artist, and teacher.

To read an article about this artist, visit the Division’s Individual Artist Fellowship Publication.

Ramona Maziarz, a Delaware Individual Artist Fellow in Work on Paper, will present an exhibition titled Fine Lines, in the Delaware Division of the Arts Mezzanine Gallery from May 3-31, 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, May 3 from 5-8 p.m. as part of Wilmington’s Art Loop.

This solo exhibition of Ramona Maziarz’s work will showcase a series of detailed pen and ink drawings. Maziarz’s drawings depict scenes of nature, which she likes to observe and ink. The artist explores nature by going on routine walks; along the way gathering different subject matter that resonate with her. Maziarz frequently visits Delaware State Parks for inspiration. She often uses leaves and twigs and other materials many people tend to overlook. The resulting drawings create a layered space full of color and beauty.

Maziarz, a resident of Middletown, has exhibited her work locally and regionally. To read an article about this artist, visit the Division’s Individual Artist Fellowship web publication.

Jessica Stephens, Individual Artist Fellow in Crafts, will present an exhibition titled Landscapes, in the Delaware Division of the Arts Mezzanine Gallery from April 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, April 5 from 5-8 p.m. as part of Wilmington’s Art Loop.

This solo exhibition of Jessica Stephens’ work will showcase a body of work influenced by the architecture of landscapes. Stephens attempts to capture the character of a rock formation or a mountainous silhouette.

The artist experiments with different materials such as coral, sterling silver, copper, and enamel. Relying heavily on line and basic geometric forms, Stephens’ intention is to create abstract and fragmented topographic studies.

A Delaware Individual Artists Fellow in Crafts, Jessica Stephens received her MFA at State University of New York, New Paltz, NY. Stephens has exhibited her work locally, regionally, and nationally.

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

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

Ellen Priest, Individual Artist Fellow in Painting, will present an exhibition of recent work in the Delaware Division of the Arts Mezzanine Gallery from March 1-28, 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, March 1 from 5-8 p.m. as part of Wilmington’s Art Loop.

This solo exhibition of Ellen Priest’s work will showcase mid-sized drawings and layered paintings from two series: the ‘Up Jumped Spring’ series based on Freddie Hubbard’s lyrical jazz waltz, and the Berklee Series “Jazz: Thinking Out Loud, Reaching for Song.” The Berklee Series is the result of a joint painting/jazz project with student composers at Berklee College of Music’s elite Global Jazz Institute.

Priest’s paintings are layered relief constructions made with superimposed layers of opaque and translucent papers, cut away in some sections, collaged with additional forms. The artist listens to the music many times and studies the score to create abstract brush studies painted while the music is playing; almost “choreographing” the forms. The resulting paintings embody a multi-layered space, sometimes open, sometimes dense, depending on the specific musical subject matter, full of color and light.

Priest, a Wilmington-based artist, graduated from the Yale Divinity School, CT and from Lawrence University, WI. She has exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the region and is included in many private and public collections. To read more about the artist, visit her Individual Artist Fellowship page.