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"driven" exhibition press release (cont'd)

“This is the sixth year VSA arts has partnered with Volkswagen to identify talented young artists,” said Soula Antoniou, president of VSA arts. “Volkswagen of America, Inc.’s support helps these emerging artists pursue careers in the arts.”

“Volkswagen is proud to partner with VSA arts and reveal the outstanding talents of these young artists,” said David Geanacopoulos, Volkswagen of America, Inc.’s director of industry-government relations. “This exhibition highlights the enormous possibilities that exist for their bright futures and what they might pursue.”

A total of $60,000 will be awarded to the finalists. Jacolby Satterwhite, 21, a current student at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, Md., and originally from Columbia, S.C., won the $20,000 grand prize for an oil on canvas titled, “Remission & Resilience.” The jury awarded Laurel Ebenal, of Ellensburg, Wash., 1st prize of $10,000 for her digital photograph, “Faun.” E. Brooke Lanier, 23, of Chicago, Ill., received the 2nd prize of $6,000 for “Staring,” an archival inkjet print on photo rag paper.

The following artists won an Award of Excellence and $2,000:

• Sarah Beren, 23, Rochester, N.Y.

• Isaac Caruso, 19, Phoenix, Ariz.

• David Castro, 23, Visalia, Calif.

• Elayna Flodin, 24, Beaverton, Ore.

• Wes Holloway, 23, Katy, Texas

• Ryan McDonnell, 21, Northampton, Mass.

• Jessica Merrell, 23, Albuquerque, N.M.

• Anjali Poddar, 22, Andover, Mass.

• Patti Pogodzinski, 17, Jacksonville, Fla.

• Holly Schuh, 21, Altura, Minn.

• Merlin Strivelli, 16, Weaverville, N.C.

• Hannah Zurko, 21, Wooster, Ohio

The largest awards program for emerging artists with disabilities ages 16-25, the work chosen for the exhibition was selected by a distinguished jury, including William A. Newman, artist and professor at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, John Perreault, art critic for Artopia, and Lisa Wainwright, dean of graduate studies at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

The S. Dillon Ripley Center is located at 1100 Jefferson Drive S.W. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except Dec. 25, and admission is free.