2009 City of Spokane Arts Awards - Call for Nominations
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2008 City of Spokane Arts Awards Video
2008 City of Spokane Arts Awards
The Spokane Arts Commission presented the 17th Annual City of Spokane Arts Awards on Monday, October 6th at the Spokane City Council Meeting, in conjunction with Arts and Humanities month. This year's recipients include:
Individual Artist – Ken Spiering
Specializing in artwork for public spaces, Ken Spiering's work can be seen from North Pole, Alaska to North Miami Beach, Florida. But he has made his most indelible mark on the Spokane region with a wealth of public art that demonstrates his extraordinary talent and versatility. Works as varied as the beloved larger-than-life red wagon, Childhood Express … Cataract, at the STA Plaza… and the exquisite wood carving entitled Passage: Immediate & Eternal in City Hall… all add immeasurably to our daily quality of life. And not all of his work is stationary – some of it can be seen running around town, as Ken has designed numerous Bloomsday T-shirts and posters.
Ken's latest and largest public work, commissioned by the Spokane Public Facilities District, is a 700-foot span of wall on the newly expanded Spokane Convention Center. Appropriately named "Current Event", the artwork is inspired by the boat-like shape of the building as well as the surrounding flow of traffic and the motion of the river, and features four giant fish that shimmer along the length of the wall. Located at a major intersection leading into Spokane's downtown, "Current Event" is one of our city's most visible and prominent pieces of art.
Mentorship is as important to Ken as is his art. By teaching at local colleges, Ken stays connected with young artists and continues to mentor and encourage many of his students long after graduation.
Arts Organization – Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox
In November of 2007, after much anticipation and a 31 million dollar capital campaign, a Spokane treasure was re-born. The Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox is poised to bring Spokane audiences the best local, regional and world-class entertainment in one of the finest performance halls in the region. The Fox is an art-deco treasure, boasting excellent acoustics and breathtaking ambiance. The 1,600 seat theatre provides a much-needed mid-sized performing arts venue for Spokane, attracting local performing arts organizations such as the Spokane Youth Symphony, Spokane Jazz Orchestra, and the Spokane String Quartet.
Located in the heart of downtown's Davenport Arts District, the Fox is the site of unforgettable experiences for thousands since it first opened in 1931. But through the years the theatre experienced a decline, and after 70 years of continuous use, the Fox was slated for demolition in 2000. Recognizing an extraordinary opportunity, the Spokane Symphony spearheaded a highly successful campaign to save the theatre, attracting support from business, the legislature and the community at large. Now, besides housing the Spokane Symphony, the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox is attracting world-class entertainment, and is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Spokane Register and the Washington Heritage Register.
The Fox defines downtown Spokane as a cultural center, generating economic benefits for the city and surrounding communities. It strives to entertain, educate and challenge audiences throughout the region. It serves as a social and cultural meeting place, and with innovative series' like Fun at the Fox and The Fox Presents, it offers diversity and excellence in the performing arts.
Arts in Education – Dave Weatherred
A tireless advocate for creative learning, Dave Weatherred has been enriching the lives of young people for 32 years. His expertise in instruction and assessment has brought Spokane School District 81 national recognition, and has helped to create student assessments for the arts that are practical and useful for teachers.
As Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator for District 81, Dave works to maintain - and even increase - Arts offerings in schools during a time of difficult budget challenges. A member of the Washington Music Educators Association "Hall of Fame", Dave is the Northwest Division President of the National Organization of Music Education. Under Dave's leadership, this organization will bring its Northwest Conference to Spokane next February, and along with it, close to 2,000 music educators and 1,600 students.
Dave is a teacher, music director, published author, and mentor... He is active as a clinician, adjudicator and honor group conductor throughout the Northwest states. He's a founder of the Clearwater Arts Camp held at Camp Spalding each summer for the past 25 years, and serves as orchestra director for the Spokane Valley Nazarene Church.
Dave's work with students in the classroom and young artists in the community instills in them valuable skills that last a lifetime. Proud parents fill arenas and auditoriums as they watch their kids perform in district-wide concerts, made possible under Dave's leadership. He has truly touched countless lives.
Individual Benefactor – Dr. Elizabeth Welty
For many years, Dr. Elizabeth Welty has given of her time, her enthusiasm and her wealth to arts organizations throughout Spokane. A retired physician, Dr. Welty generously donates to a variety of causes and associations. We honor her for nurturing the arts in Spokane through philanthropy, advocacy, action and passion.
A major contributor to the Spokane Symphony and the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox, Dr. Welty set up the educational endowment for the Fox and sat on the original campaign cabinet. Her many years of organizing the school and youth group music performances at the Spokane Symphony Associates' annual fundraiser, "Christmas Tree Elegance Parade of Trees" demonstrates her passion for providing performance opportunities for our community's youth. Dr. Welty initiated the educational endowment at the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, and has generously donated funds to that cause, as well as spearheading the effort to place the small, whimsical bronze works around the museum's campus.
Her work and tenacity with Opera Plus and Spokane Opera is ongoing and tireless. These are only a few of the many organizations that have benefited from Dr. Welty's boundless generosity. And to further underscore Dr. Welty's gifts to our community, she will receive the YWCA's Woman of Achievement Award for Arts & Culture.
Business Benefactor – Spokane Public Radio (KPBX and KSFC)
This year's recipient for Business Benefactor provides a consistent, high level of support for the arts in Spokane. Spokane Public Radio KPBX and KSFC have, since 1980, supported area artists and arts organizations through thoughtful, diverse programming which enhances and enlivens the cultural life and civic discourse of its listening communities.
For many people, Spokane Public Radio is their source for information about area arts and music events. The Arts Calendar is an important resource, reaching over 50,000 listeners in Eastern Washington, northern Idaho, Western Montana and southern British Columbia. This kind of on-air promotion helps arts organizations stretch their marketing dollars – a vital benefit in these difficult economic times.
Programs such as the popular free KPBX Kids Concerts, allow access to cultural events to young people and families who might otherwise not have the resources to attend. Local programming spotlights the best talent Spokane has to offer, with shows like The Guitar Hour, Concert of the Week and Inland Folk providing invaluable exposure for local artists.
As it ushers in a new era with a capital campaign designed for 21st Century technology, we honor all that Spokane Public Radio has done and continues to do for the arts in our region.
Arts Community Leadership – Toni Gilmartin
Through good times and difficult times, the success of an arts organization can often be defined through the efforts of its volunteer base. Toni Gilmartin has, for well over twenty years, epitomized the selfless dedication and high degree of commitment that has helped two of Spokane's most long-standing and successful theatre organizations to flourish.
Both Spokane Children's Theatre and Spokane Civic Theatre have benefited from Toni's expertise and countless hours of committed behind-the-scenes work. From running box office to managing lobby concessions… registering theatre school students to managing the front office, Toni has quietly committed herself to bringing the best community theatre to Spokane audiences, and making sure operations run smoothly and successfully.
Toni is one of those rare people who can stay calm in the midst of chaos; she never speaks a negative word about anyone, and just keeps focused on moving forward. She herself shuns the spotlight, never seeking thanks or praise. But those who know her and have worked with her recognize that Toni is truly an angel in the theatre community. This past spring, Toni retired from Spokane Civic Theatre and left a void that any organization would be hard pressed to fill.
Bold Strokes Special Achievement Award – Transitions' Women's Hearth
The Bold Strokes Award recognizes extraordinary achievement in changing the community through art. This year's recipient is a social service organization with the primary purpose of helping women to grow, change and contribute to the community. The Women’s Hearth uses the arts to provide focus and self-expression for women of the streets. These women, who have seen much pain, are coached to contribute to their own growth and healing by a creative staff and volunteers who understand the value of art as a powerful force in the community.
Guided by the values of Respect for Human Dignity, Community, Growth, Wholeness and Justice, The Women's Hearth encourages self-expression of every kind. Every hallway, every room shows colorful evidence that art can grow in unexpected places. Artwork created by the women adorns greeting cards, calendars and thank you notes. Their haunting poetry has been published to give encouragement to many others.
The Women's Hearth has participated in Spokane's First Friday Art Walks, and this past May, the exhibit "Eye C Perspectives" showcased the women's art using donated cameras to express their views of and from the streets.