Arts Awards & Art Auction

2 North 3rd Street, Suite C, Grand Forks, ND 58203 : 701.772.3710 : info@novac.org

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Free calendar of EVERY Arts & Culture Event in the state!

2010 Arts Awards
Photo Album

Click Image for Album, Photograph by Ashley Riveland

2011 Arts Awards Sponsors:

Grand Forks Herald
Happy Harry’s Bottle Shops
Dakota Harvest Bakers
Empire Arts Center
All Seasons Floral

Special Thanks To:

Adam Kemp
Betty Bloomquist
Bonnie Sobolik
Susan Nord
Tammy Zhorela
Cathy Foy
Andrea Johnke
Pat Garry
Martha Keifenheim
Brian Lofthus
Kathly Coudle-King

Previous award recipients are:

Artist of the Year: Alvin O. Boucher (2010), Kathleen Coudle-King (2009), Michael Blake (2008), Job Christenson (2007) and Adam Kemp (2006)

Individual Support of the Arts: Marlys Murphy (2010), Tamar Read (2009), Jean Holland (2008), Bruce Gjovig (2007) and Tom Edwards and Jackie McElroy Edwards (2006)

Corporate Support of the Arts: Grand Forks Herald (2010), Dakota Harvest Bakers (2009), Happy Harry’s Bottle Shops (2008), Sanders 1907 (2007) and Hugo’s (2006)

Outstanding/Lifetime Achievement: Kenneth Sherwood (2010), Benjamin Klipfel (2009), Laurel Reuter (2008), Lee Barnum (2007) and the late Carol Graham (2006)

Arts Awards & Silent Art Auction

Artwork available at the last Arts Awards and Silent Art Auction, held on September 13th, 2011

The North Valley Arts Council initiated the Annual Arts Awards in 2006 to honor individuals who most actively produce quality art and to show appreciation for members of the community who support the production of art through volunteerism, financial contributions, purchase of art, and attendance at arts events.

2011 Award Recipients

Dr. Michael Wittgraf
Artist of the Year

The Artist of the Year award recognizes extraordinary artistic achievement with a gift of $1,000, underwritten by the Grand Forks Herald.

Dr. Wittgraf is the Chair of the University of North Dakota’s Department of Music, where he has been a professor since 1998; he specializes in composition, theory, technology and bassoon. Dr. Wittgraf’s musical composition catalog contains over fifty works and includes music for orchestra, band, choir, chamber ensembles, solo instruments, voice and electronics. Dr. Wittgraf has won many honors, including the University of Minnesota Craig and Janet Swan Sesquicentennial Commissioning Project, and his compositions have received special distinction in the United States, Canada, France, Germany and Austria. Many artists, including the Chiara String Quartet, the Minnesota Orchestra, and the National Symphony Orchestra have commissioned and/or performed his music. He has been composer-in-residence for the Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra and has performed in bands that have opened for artists like the Neville Brothers, Molly Hatchet and Kenny G. Dr. Wittgraf is also active in the Grand Forks region as a performer and lecturer- he is a member of the Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra and member of local favorite performing group, the Downtown Horns.

Madelyn Camrud
Individual Support of the Arts

Ms. Camrud garnered the Individual Supporter of the Arts award in recognition of her extraordinary support of area arts and culture. Madelyn was instrumental in developing the annual benefit dinner and fall art auction at the North Dakota Museum of Art (NDMOA), and she has donated her artwork to the auctions on numerous occasions. Madelyn holds season tickets to a wide variety of arts events, and she is a committed volunteer to both the NDMOA and the Greater Grand Forks Symphony, for which she recently edited a history book in conjunction with Eliot Glassheim. Madelyn houses the Symphony Conductor in her home when he is in town, and she recently hosted a private dinner on behalf of the Symphony for prospective donors, something she has also done numerous times for the Museum of Art. Madelyn is a generous financial contributor to many of the local arts organizations, and for a number of years she hosted a talk show on WDAZ TV and was generous in promoting arts events.

Madelyn is also an accomplished artist: she received a BFA in Visual Arts from UND, and on August 11, 2011 Madelyn presented a solo art exhibit at Third Street Gallery. She holds a Master's degree in English and has published several books of poetry. Two of her poems were chosen to air on Garrison Keillor's Writers Almanac. In the spring of 2005, Larry Woiwode named her an Associate Poet Laureate of North Dakota.

River City Jewelers
Corporate Support of the Arts

River City Jewelers owners Michael Zhorela and Cory Schullo give generously of their wealth, time and support to ensure Grand Forks is a vibrant and healthy community. Cory and Michael have turned their store into an Art Gallery, featuring regional artists on a rotating basis. They become knowledgeable on each artist, and this helps the artists sell their work. River City Jewelers has become the most popular stop on the Art and Wine Walk by incorporating live music and creative appetizers at their own expense. It is unusual if the River City folks are not in attendance at an area arts event, and not only do they give generously to each event, they often buy tickets for friends they think would enjoy being involved in Grand Forks arts and culture.

Michael and Corey have been committee members and lead sponsor for the NDMOA’s fundraiser, Antique to Chic: Jewelry Sale and Raffle, since it began in 2006. Each year, Mike turns his home into a jewelry cleaning station and drop off point. They also donate the top raffle item for the event. Each year, Michael estimates the value of the item to be around $500, and without fail, each year the actual value of the completed piece far surpasses that estimate. Last year, the handcrafted and originally designed pendant that Michael created and donated was valued at over $1,500. River City Jewelers is a shining example of civic involvement, and its owners, employees and friends go above and beyond for the community.

Summer Performing Arts Company (SPA)
Outstanding Contribution to the Community

Going into its 25th year in the summer of 2012, SPA is a summer theatre and music program for Greater Grand Forks area students currently enrolled in grades K-11. Arts educators from around the region use SPA to showcase their talents outside of traditional classroom instruction each summer.

SPA was founded in the late 1980s after a need arose for summer vocal lessons. Grand Forks teachers Dean Opp, Brad Sherwood, Connie Sherwood, Jolly Sherwood, Tom Young, Lori Young, and Mike Weber worked together to create the foundation that ultimately became SPA. Though resources at the time were limited, vocal lessons soon led to structured recitals, which then led to musical revues, and within a few years, SPA became known for its full-scale, auditioned productions that are still in place today. In 1988, the summer musical was a revue entitled An Evening with Andrew Lloyd Webber. There were 30 cast members, 15 backstage helpers, and 13 staff members. Since 2002, SPA has averaged over 1,000 total participants per year. The 2011 presentation of Sweeney Todd was SPA's most ambitious ever with a larger percent of strong musicians in the cast than in previous years. At times, four or five characters on the stage were singing a different part at the same time, sometimes to a different melody. The SPA staff attributes this strength to the fact that many of the artists were mentored through SPA during their entire academic experience. SPA is a program of the Grand Forks Public Schools.

2011 Door Prize Painting

This painting was painted by Marlene Styles during the 2011 Arts Awards and Silent Art Auction.

Title: "Volunteers"
Size: 28" x 40"

LINKS

2010 Arts AwardsPhoto Album