While the formal ceremony isn’t until November 15th, the City of Everett has announced its annual Arts Award Winners…
Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson will honor the art award recipients at the 2012 Mayor’s Arts Awards and the Richard Wendt Award of Excellence celebration at 5 p.m. Wednesday Nov. 15 at the Weyerhaeuser Room at Everett Station, 3201 Smith Ave.
The Richard Wendt Award of Excellence is given each year to a person or organization who has demonstrated outstanding support of the arts throughout their lifetime. This year’s award winners are J. Leach and Vickie Norris, for their extraordinary commitment to the arts and artists in Everett. J has served as an officer on the Arts Council’s (dba Schack Art Center) Board of Directors since the early 1990’s and has provided legal counsel. Vickie has donated her talents to the H’Arts auction for many years, contributing her theatrical background and public speaking skills to make H’Arts a fun and successful event. In support of the literary arts, the couple started an endowed collection fund as part of the Everett Library’s Collections for Excellence fundraising project. In addition, Vickie serves on the library Board of Trustees.In recognition of Everett’s growing arts community, the Cultural Arts Commission in 2010 created the Mayor’s Arts Awards to honor those in the field of arts education and artists in the community who demonstrate commitment to the Everett arts community.
This year’s Mayor’s Arts award winners are: Lloyd Weller, Arts Educator; Ron and Ursula Stocke, Artists in the Community.
Lloyd Weller is a photography instructor at Everett Community College and a member of the Schack Art Center Board of Directors. Since 1969, Lloyd Weller has taught photography and has contributed to making the college’s photography program one of the strongest in the state for 60 years. According to Jeanne Leader, EvCC Dean of Arts and Learning Resources: “Lloyd Weller is an administrator’s dream. He is a thoughtful, hardworking faculty member who questions, but is always collaborative, truly enjoys the real work of teaching every day and consistently steps forward to contribute his expertise to both the photography program and the college as a whole.”
Ron and Ursula Stocke are painters who teach and live in Everett. They are active in the local arts community. They have both participated in Fresh Paint for more than 10 years and Ron was selected as the Fresh Paint Poster Artist in 2011. They each have their own artistic flair and were invited to participate in the Construction Panel Art Project (at the city’s court construction site) by the City of Everett in 2011. Ron teaches workshops in America, Canada and Europe, and Ursula teaches workshops locally. They both donate generously to local auctions, including H’arts, the Mona auction and the Lowell Art Works Auction. Ron and Ursula also volunteer their time at the Everett ArtWalk. Ron has volunteered as a Juror for high school art competitions and Ursula acts as a mentor for local High School Students.
Past Wendt Award recipients include: 2011: Janalene Simpson; 2010: Arden Flom; 2009: Marian and Jerry Krell; 2008: Bob & Dona Anderson; 2007: Dr. Richard and Nancy Wendt; 2006: Imagine Children’s Museum; 2005: Clay and Hap Wertheimer; 2004: Terry and Cheryle Earnheart; 2003: Susan Jane Russell; 2002: Arts Council of Snohomish County; 2001: Mike Jordan; 2000: Peter Newland; 1999: John and Idamae Schack; 1998: Dr. Sanford Wright; 1997: Maryalice Salget; 1996: Dr. Paul-Elliott Cobbs; 1995: Dr. Richard Wendt; 1994: Carl Gipson; 1993: Dorothy Jayne Wright, Clyde Revord Motors and Jim Noonan; and 1992: Gene Nastri.
October 16, 2012
Artwork in Everett, Events in Everett, Everett Government