Craft Art from Western New York, 2000

Craft Art Western New York 2000 was selected by arts adviser Michael W. Monroe, former curator-in-charge of the Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC and former executive director of the American Craft Council in New York City. He selected 61 works created during the past two years by 46 artists. Artists included Nancy Belfer, Michelle Berardi, Alex Gabriel Bernstein, Dale D. Bosworth, Christopher L. Bretschneider, Juan Carlos Caballero-Pérez, Mary K. Cloonan, Brett Coppins, Donna D’Aquino, Laurie dill-Kocher, Todd W. Eick, Irwin M. Franco, Suzanne Gray Hofmeister, Paul R. Harp, Kris Harrison, Tracy Haynes, Bryan Hopkins, Linda Huey, Sue Katz, Steve Loar, Keng Nio Lolly Ong, Scott Losi, Elizabeth Lyons, Ellen Markel, Ayesha Mayadas, Gail McCarthy, Lori Mills, Barbara J. Murak, Richard Nickel, John M. Paananen, Ann Perry, Scott Place, Elaine Polvinen, Kathi Roussel, Matthew SaGurney, Carlo Sammarco, Stephen Saracino,Yu-ting Shih, Gerald G. Smith, Lynn Szymanski, Carol Townsend, William Underhill, Robert L. Wood, Leah Woods, Barry R. Yavener, and Julie York. This biennial, juried exhibition is supported by the Sylvia L. Rosen Endowment.

Monroe made remarks at the preview reception and presented the purchase awards, which were made possible by The Sylvia L. Rosen Endowment and The Floristry. The Rosen Lecture was given by ceramic artist Kathi Roussel, recipient of the 1998 Sylvia L. Rosen Purchase Award. The Canadian lecture series was made possible by funding from the Canadian Consulate General with a discussion about Canadian craft art by representatives from the Ontario Crafts Council in Toronto and the Burlington Art Centre in Burlington, Ontario. Another presentation was made by Canadian craft artists who teach at the Sheridan College School of Craft and Design in Oakville, Ontario.

The first Sylvia L. Rosen purchase award goes to Julie York for Beauty Distilled, a work composed of cast ceramic forms with glass, metal and water.  Julie resides in Alfred, New York.  She is a teaching assistant at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, where she received her Master of Fine Arts degree.

The second Sylvia L. Rosen purchase award goes to Alex Bernstein for Assimilation II, a blown glass and steel wall-hung work.  Alex is a graduate assistant in the School for American Crafts at the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he is a Master of Fine Arts candidate next year.

Through the generosity of The Floristry, we are able to purchase two additional works. The first Floristry Purchase Award goes to Carlo Sammarco for his yellow gold Untitled ceramic sculpture created this year. Carlo received a Master of Fine Arts degree from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in Alfred, New York, where he still lives.

The second Floristry Purchase Award goes to Michelle Berardi for her pair of ceramic vessels titled Archegaria's Sisters.  Michelle lives in East Amherst, New York.  She studied ceramics and wood firing at the University of Oregon through the National Student Exchange.  She anticipates graduating with a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Ceramic Design from Buffalo State College in May 2001.

There is a new merit award this year made possible by the creation of the Margaret E. Mead Endowment established to support craft art and fiber initiatives.  Stephen F. Saracino has been selected to receive the Margaret E. Mead Endowment Merit Award for his sterling silver candlesticks titled: I candelieri della Tuscana con il chinghiale, Bacchus, i cherubini ed i galli neri, which translated from Italian means Tuscan candlesticks with wild boars, Bacchus, cherubs and black roosters.