2007 Award Winners

To recognize artists of outstanding merit, the fair makes several awards each year. Presented on Sunday afternoon, prizes are awarded as follows:

 

Mary Louise Womer Award for General Excellence ($1,000)

Presented annually in memory of Mary Louise Womer, founder of the 57th Street Art Fair, this award is given to an outstanding artist in any category. As owner of The Little Gallery, Ms. Womer provided a neighborhood gathering place for local artists. Her initial idea of staging an event where artists could meet, showcase their work, and sell art directly to the community grew into the 57th Street Art Fair. Her vision was well received, as this year the fair celebrates its 61st anniversary!

2007 Award Winner: Hideaki Miyamura

Originally from Japan, Hideaki Miyamura combines classical forms finished with unique iridescent glazes into one-of-a-kind works of art. Trained by Master Potter Shuei Miura of Yamanashi, Japan, Miyamura mixes his own glazes with a three dimensional quality to coat the elegantly simple forms he creates. His aim is to produce pieces that are balanced in their environment, co-existing naturally with their surroundings while evoking a sense of purity and peacefulness. Within the past year, Miyamura has researched and successfully recreated the Yohen Tenmoku glazes of the Sung Dynasty (940-1290 A.D.), resulting in the production of the Yohen Crystal Glaze, an extraordinary finish for his works. Select pieces of his works are housed in permanent collections of premier museums throughout the world, including the Auckland Institute and Museum, the Chicago Art Institute and the Smithsonian. Miyamura's work can be seen at: www.miyamurastudio.com

 

57th Street Art Fair Committee Award ($750.00)

Chosen by members of the steering committee, this award recognizes one artist for dedication and excellence in their chosen medium. All exhibitors, returning and new, are eligible for this special award. This prize is a significant honor, since it represents the collective opinion of the committee members who work year round to organize and ensure the continued quality and success of the fair.

2007 Award Winner: Frances Kite

Frances Kite is an exceptionally talented artist, passionately working in the field of Cloisonną. Combining colorful enamels, precious metals and gemstones, Kite draws on nature to provide the inspiration for her one of a kind, heirloom quality pieces. Her creations are featured in the permanent collection of the Renwick Gallery at the Smithsonian Institution. Please visit Kite's website at: www.franceskite.com to view her extraordinary work.

 

Nettie Hart Award for Crafts ($750.00)

Presented in honor of Nettie Hart, a key supporter in the early days of the 57th Street Art Fair. Ms. Heart, a designer with Raymond Loewy, had an artistic eye and brought many needed cosmetic touches to the fair. She served as chairperson of the steering committee in the early 1950’s. Unfortunately, she was killed in an automobile accident in Spain in 1962. Since 1963, to honor her memory and in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the early days of the fair, this award has been presented annually to one outstanding artist selected from the categories of jewelry making, fiber, glass, leather, mixed media and paper.

2007 Award Winner: Patrick Turner

Inspired by the daily abstract realities of life, artist Patrick Turner breathes new life into found objects, using them in bits and pieces to create magnificent collages. This mixture of images creates a puzzle like quality, leading the viewer on a search for more clues into the message of observation. Turner's works contain a blending of the past and present, provoking a feel of nostalgic ambiance as well as a glimpse into a mysterious destination. These amazing art works exhibit a fascinating charm and personality of their own for the discriminating art aficionado. Other examples of Turner's work can be seen at: www.patrickturnerart.com

 

Katrina Hadley Award for Painting, Sculpture or Photography ($750.00)

Since the 1960’s this award has been presented to one outstanding artist in the media of photography, sculpture or painting in memory of Katrina Hadley, a founding member of the 57th Street Art Fair Committee. Ms. Hadley was a key committee member for many years in the early days of the fair, working tirelessly to provide needed support services.

2007 Award Winner: Dylan Strzynski

Still fascinated by the simple child-like act of making marks, Dylan Strzynski uses those marks as the core of his creative works, turning them into one of a kind prints, sculpture and unique pieces of art. Strzynski has sought to develop reductive methods of painting that combine drawing and mixed media elements. He likens his practice of building up and scraping away the surface of his paintings to the way nature impacts the landscape of the earth through erosion and the force of the elements, each process creating a unique layer. Strzynski's works have a 'haunted' quality to them, creating the ultimate optical illusion that speaks a visual vocabulary. For more images of Strzynski's work, and information about the artist please visit: www.dylanstrzynski.com

 

The Newcomer Award ($250.00 – multiple awards)

Chosen when the judges convene to screen artists wishing to participate in the fair, this award recognizes outstanding work by newly selected exhibitors. This year, 785 artists applied to exhibit; a total of 271 were invited to attend. The judges screened works from 633 applicants (new applicants as well as prior attendees in categories being rescreened) inviting approximately 100 to exhibit for the first time. The winners of this award represent, in the opinion of the judges, the best new applicants for 2008.

2007 Award Winner: Terry Evans

Dedicated to environmental responsibility, Terry Evans harvests and prepares his own medium, and judiciously promotes the use of little known and under appreciated species for his amazing wooden creations. He combines and compresses different types and colors of wood into a single block that is then hand carved into a shape. He processes the wood himself, sawing, laminating and preparing the surfaces, resulting in an all natural product. No surface color is used in any of his works. Evans is often struck by fair goers' first response when they see his creations. They smile, and that leaves Evans feeling that life is good! Evans can be reached directly at: 913.825.1275 or spiritwood@everestkc.net

 

Honorable Mention

In addition to these prizes, at the discretion of the committee, Honorable Mention awards of $250 each may be provided to runner’s up in these categories.

2007 Award Winner: Heinrich Toh

A mixed media artist currently working out of Kansas City, Heinrich Toh examines identity and cultural displacement that stem from relocation and travel in his works. He explores memories of past and present, examining the fragility of tradition and identity. His current body of work combines several techniques which produce rich lawyers of color, pattern and imagery on paper. Using various printmaking processes such as monoprints, collographys and paper litho transfers, and incorporating additional elements such as alternative photo techniques like cyanotype and van dyke prints, Toh creates fresh perspectives on traditional and contemporary culture. His works can be found in many public, private and corporate collections. More of Toh's works, as well as an artist statement and resume can be found at: www.heinrichtoh.com

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