VSA Arts and Volkswagen of America award $60,000 to artists with disabilities “Destination Anywhere” premiers at Smithsonian
Washington, August 31, 2006 — VSA arts and Volkswagen of America, Inc. today announced the fifteen finalists of the 2006 exhibit, “Destination Anywhere.” This exhibit is the fifth collaboration of the two organizations highlighting the works of young artists with disabilities. The VSA arts /Volkswagen of America, Inc. exhibit will open on September 28, 2006 at the S. Dillon Ripley Center of the Smithsonian Institution and remain throughout the month of November. The awardees of “Destination Anywhere” will receive a total of $60,000.
The Grand Prize awardee, Emily Alexander, from Chicago, Ill., will receive $20,000 for her mixed media work, “Butterfly”; First awardee, Jordan Rhoat, from Tyrone, Pa., will receive $10,000 for an acrylic painting, “OMG! A Tsunami in the Desert on an Overcast Day”; and Caleb Charland, second awardee from Brewer, Maine, will receive $6,000 for his silver gelatin print, “Three Jars.”
The following artists will each receive an Award of Excellence in the amount of $2,000: April Alvarez (Laie, Hawaii), Brandon Barriger (Cunningham, Ky.), Carrie Brummer (Yarmouthport, Mass.), Luis Estrada (Richmond, Calif.), Emily Francisco (DeSoto, Mo.), Jessica Goldberg (Tampa, Fla.), Jarrett Inn (Germantown, Md.), Coralina Meyer (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Skyla Stuckey (Whispering Pines, N.C.), Stephanie Ward (Wichita, Kan.), Eileen Wheeler (Forest Hill, Md.), Mandi Ziino (Arcata, Calif.). Awardees will be honored at a reception on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, September 20, 2006.
The distinguished jury panel reviewed 207 submissions from artists ages 16-25 years old. The panel consisted of William A. Newman, artist and professor, Corcoran College of Art and Design, Washington; Agnes Gund, President Emerita of the Museum of Modern Art, New York; and Annie Gawlak, director of G Fine Art, Washington.
This year's call for art asked artists to take viewers to unexpected conceptual locations through their work. “We encouraged artists to share their personal perspective through art,” said Soula Antoniou, president of VSA arts. “We are grateful to Volkswagen of America for making this possible.”
Volkswagen of America Inc.'s director of industry-government relations, David Geanacopoulos, said, “We are excited to partner with VSA arts for another year to highlight and support the outstanding talents of young artists with disabilities.”
VSA arts is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to create a society where all people with disabilities learn through, participate in and enjoy the arts. VSA arts provides educators, parents, and artists with resources and the tools to support arts programming in schools and communities. VSA arts showcases the accomplishments of artists with disabilities and promotes increased access to the arts for people with disabilities. Each year millions of people participate in VSA arts programs through a nationwide network of affiliates and in more than 60 countries around the world. VSA arts is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. For more information visit www.vsarts.org.
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Volkswagen believes that the “heartware” is equally as important as the “hardware.” For people with disabilities, the automobile provides both freedom of mobility and self-expression. www.vw.com.
