ST. GEORGE – Dixie State College of Utah and the Center for Education, Business and the Arts’ Business of Art program have announced the six grant recipients of the first annual Zions Bank Art Awards.
The awards were created to support local artists, small business owners and art educators who attend the annual Business of Art seminars. The funding for the each of the grants, totaling $15,000, was made possible by a donation made last year by Zions Bank, whose president, A. Scott Anderson, is a supporter of the arts. The recipients were chosen earlier this year by a statewide panel.
“In an enlightened and flourishing society, business and the arts compliment one another,” Anderson said. “Both test the envelope of human creativity, intellect, energy, and promise. Both seek to motivate, to produce, to excel, to unite. Both contribute to the success of the other.”
DSC Vice President of Institutional Advancement Christina Schultz praised the partnership between Zions Bank, DSC and CEBA. She noted that because of the collaboration, a number of artists, galleries and educators will have the opportunity to realize dreams and reach goals that may have otherwise been unattainable.
“We are very appreciative of Zions Bank for their generosity and foresight to fund these grants,” Schultz said. “Our mission is to provide educational and cultural opportunities, which in turn benefits our community and economy and these grants help us fulfill those goals.”
2012 grant recipients
Art Education Content – Richard Kohler of St. George. Kohler received the award for his upcoming audio/visual presentations planned at a number of locations in Washington and Kane counties, which will give insight into the historic structure of southern Utah’s communities and the reasoning and principles that have, or have not, survived into the present.
Professional Artist – Valerie Orlemann of Parowan. One of her oil paintings was selected for purchase by the Business of Art program to display in the DSC Permanent Art Collection. Her artwork will be used in an exhibit at the Kane County Hospital’s Healing Arts Exhibit and to develop promotional materials for the Business of Art.
Student Artist – Robert M. Clements of St. George. Clements’ grant will be used to help fund the Master’s of Fine Art degree he is currently pursuing.
Business Grant Artist – Aimee Bonham of St. George. Bonham was selected to receive funding to assist in her efforts in marketing a Kane County Healing Arts Exhibit, featuring her art, to enhance her business as an artist.
Business Grant Gallery – Bobbi Wan-kier of St. George. Along with her group of artists in the studio/gallery Art Escapes-3D, Wan-kier will develop and implement a series of life-size dinosaur replicas in the coming months. When complete, the installation will be located at the Dinosaur Discovery at Johnson Farm exhibit.
Art Education Project – J. Kirk Richards of Provo. Richards will offer a workshop event Nov. 7-9 in the SWATC building at the Kanab Middle School in Kanab. In addition to elements of building an art business, the workshop will focus on plein air landscape, the human figure, and how to finish a painting.
The fourth annual Business of Art seminar will take place Nov. 9-10 at the Kanab Middle School. Featuring speeches by Salt Lake Community College art professor Richard Graham and Utah Valley University professor Daniel Fairbanks, the seminar educates about the business side of art and is open to any visual artist in any discipline as well as art collectors, educators and anyone interested in art. For registration and more information, visit DSC’s website.
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