ARTSHIFT San Jose – First Annual Awards
Back in June, ARTSHIFT San Jose began seeking nominations for their first annual ARTSHIFT AWARDS. In an open process, anyone could nominate a Silicon Valley artist, event, organization, curator, educator or exhibition for special honors and a cash award. Last week the winners were announced at a special party and ceremony held at Orchard Commercial on North First Street. (By the way, kudos to Orchard Commercial for their commitment to our Silicon Valleys art community.)
A large crowd of supports came out to celebrate the arts in Silicon Valley. Erin Goodwin-Guerrero (editor of ARTSHIFT San Jose) provided background information about all the nominees. James Morgan (designer/technical advisor ARTSHIFT), spoke about an online art scene and the Silicon Valley art community in the digital age. JoAnne Northrup (senior curator, San Jose Museum of Art) addressed San Jose and Silicon Valley’s evolving art scene and Kerry Adams (director, Office of Cultural Affairs) presented the two cash awards.
The nominees included:
• Ben Alexy—Painter
• Community School of Music and Arts at Finn Center
• Shelby Graham—Director, Sesnon Gallery, UC Santa Cruz
• Miriam Hitchcock—Painter
• Cathy Kimball—Director, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art
• Cherri Lakey and Brian Eder—Anno Domini and related community projects
• Kent Manske—Artist; instructor, Foothill College; Bay Area Book Artists
• Ken Matsumoto—Sculptor; Art Object Gallery
• Montalvo Teaching Artist Fellowship at Downtown College Prep
• Fawn Powers and Roger Poyner—Art patrons, supporters of the arts community
• Anne Sconberg and Mark Henderson—Art patrons, unique art parties
• Ema Harris-Sintamarian—Printmaker; painter; instructor, SJSU
• Joel Slayton—Director, Zero1; professor, SJSU; director, CADRE
• Triton Museum of Art—Arts education programs
Congratulations to the 2008 award winners Ema Harris-Sintamarian and Cherri Lakey/Brian Eder for their significant contribution to the Silicon Valley art community.
Ema Harris-Sintamarian is a recent MFA graduate of the SJSU School of Art and Design. She now teaches at SJSU and maintains a studio in the Citadel in Martha Gardens. She offers students serious challenges coupled together with her boundless energy for her own professional practice in creating and exhibiting her work.
Cherri Lakey and Brian Eder are community leaders in their efforts to bring much needed attention to the arts in downtown San Jose. The two founded Anno Domini Gallery, and have established Phantom Galleries – rotating exhibitions of artwork in unoccupied storefronts, as well as provided much of the momentum in making the First Friday’s art walks on Forth Street such huge success.
It’s takes people like all those nominated in the 2008 ARTSHIFT AWARDS to continue to make Silicon Valley and San Jose a strong place for the arts. Thanks to all of them for helping to make our community a culturally interesting destination for us to engage in. Who will YOU nominate in 2009?