Fifth Annual Mayor’s Awards

Della Cheney receiving the Mayor's Award for the Arts

Juneau – Juneau Arts & Humanities Council’s Fifth Annual Mayor’s Awards for the Arts recipients named
Juneau Arts & Humanities Council announces the selection of the recipients for the Fifth Annual Mayor’s Awards for the Arts, to be presented at the Sunday Wearable Arts Extravaganza on February 12 at 3 pm, at Centennial Hall.
• Artist: Dan Hopson, musician, classical guitarist, and music teacher. Dan has been an integral part of the music community in Juneau since 1970, playing as a soloist, in large and small groups, for weddings and other special events, and touring extensively throughout the state with violinist Linda Rosenthal in the late 1970’s. He teaches guitar at the University of Alaska SE, and performs regularly at the Gold Room at the Baranof Hotel. He served on the Juneau Arts & Humanities Council Board of Trustess for six years, as the secretary, and continues as a weekly volunteer. He just released his first CD, Solo Classical Guitar.
• Arts in Education: The Juneau School District Elementary Art team of Nancy Lehnhart and Mimi Walker Medenica. Through their work, the Elementary Art program at the Juneau School District has provided teachers with the tools necessary to integrate the arts into their daily instruction in the classroom. Their goal: “All elementary students in the Juneau School District will experience art as a part of their everyday learning. They will have regular instruction in visual art as a core curriculum subject and they will be given opportunities to learn other curriculum subject areas through integrated art experiences.” The 80 Juneau School District visual art “kits” are spread around the community from preschool to sixth grade, with Mimi and Nancy demonstrating their effective used with students of all ages. Through their dedication to doing as much as possible with limited resources, our children are receiving arts education.
• Business Leadership in the Arts: Alaskan Brewing Company. From their use of artwork on their labels to their generous support of arts organizations and other charitable organizations in town, Alaskan Brewing Company epitomizes the ideal corporate citizen in our community. In addition to offering their finely crafted beers to help raise funds for the arts, the company encourages their staff members to be active volunteers, serve on not-for-profit boards, and participate in arts activities – including developing Wearable Art for the runway!
• Innovative Application of the Arts: Lucid Reverie is a small local business established in 2002, initially working in video production, web design, and graphic design, serving organizations and businesses across the state. Their work has expanded to include Alaska Robotics short films and comics, development of the Ruby Room Gallery, the Juneau Underground Movie Project and the Alaska Short Forum encouraging Alaskan filmmakers, and collaborations with Smack of Jellyfish. Their entrepreneurial spirit in using original art and design to develop exciting events and products has established them as leaders in the State. Most recently, Pat Race was a featured panelist at the recent Alaska State Council on the Arts “Creative Communities.”
• Lifetime Achievement in the Arts: Guy “Buddy” Tabor, musician, singer/songwriter, has been based in Juneau since 1967. A favorite at Alaska Folk Festival for decades, he has nine albums to his credit, and a long list of songs and song lyrics that have moved many, many people through the years. His song “Get Up Dogs” was used in several documentaries and by ABC’s Wild World of Sports. His work appears on NPR stations, and his song “New Fallen Snow” is performed by the Undertakin’ Daddies, a Juno Award-nominated Canadian roots band on their album Post Atomic Hillbilly. His song “Medicated Family” inspired a series of live performances in Folsom Prison over a period of years, performances which Buddy describes as a spirtual calling, and an act of compassion.
• Patron of the Arts: Bruce Simonson has demonstrated long-standing, extraordinary commitment to the musical life in Juneau and to our community itself. His heart-and-soul involvement is seen in the time, effort, and money that he has devoted to the many facets of his musical passion. Phrases describing him include “epitome of community activism,” “ a gift to the Juneau Community”, “selfless.” He founded, funded, directs and produces the Juneau Bach Society concerts, performs in the Juneau Symphony, volunteers in the school music programs, and collaborates with the Alaska Youth Choir as well as other arts groups. He designed, funded, built, and helped install the reflective “clouds” at Juneau Douglas High School Auditorium to improve the acoustics there. Highest praise of all: He brings joy to our community.
• Volunteer for the Arts: Bing Carillo stops in at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center almost daily to see if anything needs doing, using his expertise as an electrician and builder to help keep things going. He is responsible for the lighting on the outside of the wall. He builds Hit the JACC Putt holes, and passes the bases along to others to use in the future. He helps with the Wearable Art shows every year. In addition to his work for the Council he is a long time Big Brother – he and his little especially enjoy fishing, and he shares the catch with neighbors and friends. He is a tireless fundraiser for BBBS. He shovels the neighborhood sidewalks and parking areas: He sees a need and just steps in without being asked. His dedication to the arts, and to his community, as a volunteer and patron is unmatched.
For more information, please call Nancy DeCherney at 586-2787.

Mayor’s Awards for the Arts Historical Record

Juneau – Juneau Arts & Humanities Council’s Third Annual Mayor’s Awards for the Arts recipients named

Juneau Arts & Humanities Council announces the selection of the recipients for the Third Annual Mayor’s Awards for the Arts, to be presented at “An Afternoon Cheese” reception at the Juneau Arts & Culture Center on Sunday, September 13, 2009 from 4:30 to 6:00 pm.

• Volunteer/Patron of the Arts: Peter Freer, for his years of service to many organizations in the community, from the Arts Council to Perseverance Theatre, to Theatre in the Rough. Peter has been involved at every level of the arts community from serving on boards, to hosting fundraising dinners, to driving screws into sets to acting on stage and making people laugh. He is unfailingly generous, realistic, wise and helpful. He bolsters the attitudes of everyone around him. He exemplifies community spirit.
• Business Leadership in the Arts: Rich Stone, Alaska Litho, for the countless ways the business supports school art programs and arts organizations in Juneau. Alaska Litho provides discounted prices and offers formatting assistance to ensure that publicity materials are top quality. The company is always willing to help with new ideas, bends over backward to meet deadlines, and does everything it can to help organizations thrive. In addition, Rich and Mary Stone personally volunteer their time as set crew, cast parents, and costumers to help make the school programs successful. Their commitment to the community is inspiring.
• Artist: Sue Kazama, pianist extraordinaire, for her tireless, skillful, gracious guidance of nearly every musician and music group in Juneau. As a pianist, she has performed as a soloist, in small ensembles, and in large orchestras, demonstrating a virtuosity that delights audiences. But most impressive has been her quiet work behind the scenes as an accompanist and rehearsal pianist. Her incredible ear and sense for music coupled with her generous spirit and high standards guide the students, directors, and musicians to reach the highest possible performance level. From the youngest Suzuki violinists playing their very first recital to seasoned opera singers, with Sue as the accompanist, the performance will be wonderful. It is safe to say that nearly every musician and music group that contributes to Juneau’s amazing cultural tapestry has relied at some point upon her talents and generosity.
• Innovative Application of the Arts: Adele Hamey, Taku Graphics, for her vision linking artists and retailers together and producing products that depict Alaskan artists’ visual interpretations of our great state’s scenic beauty, cultures, and peoples. She has creatively marketed artwork and produced products that bring an array of art to the marketplace while helping provide artists with a profitable and creative venue for their work. While she carries the artwork of established artists, she also gives up and coming artists opportunities as well, now representing the work of over 82 artists, most Alaskan.
• Arts in Education: Shona Strauser, Education and Outreach programs at Perseverance Theatre, Director of the summer STAR program, and instructor at the Canvas at REACH. Shona works with hundreds of elementary, middle school, and high school students, as well as artists who experience developmental disabilities, and draws out from each of them amazing performances. Her ability to work with inexperienced and emerging actors of all ages and abilities and to inspire and enthuse them has infused our community with blossoming theatrical potential in the past five years.
• Patron of the Arts: Lucy Merrell, for her years of service and contributions to the community through her nearly 20 years on the Juneau Symphony Board of Directors. Over the years, Lucy has served as both the President and Vice President, and worked enthusiastically in all areas of board service notably fundraising and marketing. During her tenure the Juneau Symphony has grown into one of Alaska’s premier musical organizations, offering both musicians and audiences opportunities remarkable in a town of this size.
• Lifetime Achievement in the Arts: Janice Holst, of Janice Holst School of Dance for nearly 30 years of dedication to the community, engaging students in dance as a way to a healthy lifestyle. Her Dancers Against Drugs group was recognized in 2007 as Alaska’s winner in the national Make a Difference Day during Red Ribbon Week, her troupe regularly performs as a service for many public events.  Through her Summer Dance Academies artists of all ages learn how to integrate dance and fine arts in producing performances. Because of her commitment to high standards and her belief in her students she engenders a strong work ethic and dedication to public service, which she herself models throughout the community.

Honorees received their awards at “An Afternoon Cheese” reception and cheese sculpture contest on Sunday afternoon, September 13, 2009, from 4:30 to 6:00 pm. The event celebrates volunteers in the arts. Attendees had an opportunity to sign up to volunteer for arts events throughout the coming season, and to purchase tickets to events they’d like to enjoy as audience members at a one-time only discount. The event was free to volunteers, $10 at the door for all others.

The Fourth Annual Mayor’s Awards are scheduled for Sunday, February 13, 2011, to be presented as part of the Wearable Art Extravaganza. Nominations are due by January 15, 2011.