Division of the Arts award winners reception slated Aug. 10
Works by this year’s Delaware Division of the Arts award winners will be exhibited at CAMP Rehoboth from Thursday, Aug. 10, to Monday, Sept. 8, at 37 Baltimore, Ave., Rehoboth Beach.
A winners reception is set for 6 to 8 p.m., Aug. 10. Attendees can meet the artists, socialize in the courtyard and tour the art in the gallery.
These Delaware artists have been recognized for their outstanding quality of work in visual arts, literature, folk art, and media arts. Visual arts on display include paintings, polymer, photography, charcoal, sculptures and media arts.
This year, the division received work samples from 118 Delaware choreographers, composers, musicians, writers, and folk, media and visual artists. The work samples were reviewed by out-of-state arts professionals who considered the demonstrated creativity and skill in each artist’s respective art form. In all, 17 artists were awarded fellowships in the following categories – two masters, seven established and eight emerging.
The selected fellows are Joyce Barbagallo, Bryant (Tee) Bell, Liz DeJesus, IVA (Emily Tepe), Constanza (Cony) Madariaga, Ron Meick, Michael Miller, James Morgan, Mary Pauer, Christopher Penna, Lauren E. Peters, Charlese Phillips, B. Proud, Kim Hoey Stevenson, Tahira, Jill Althouse-Wood and Anne Yarbrough. They reside in places throughout Delaware, including Bridgeville, Claymont, Felton, Harrington, Lewes, Newark, Smyrna and Wilmington.
Photographer B. Proud is one of this year’s masters award winners. Over the past 13 years, Proud’s artistry has increasingly and passionately been focused on documenting and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. The initial project, begun at the height of the fight for marriage equality, celebrated long-term relationships – couples who had been living together as married for many years – including CAMP Rehoboth founders Murray Archibald and Steve Elkins. In 2016, Proud began to focus specifically on transgender and gender-nonconforming couples and families nationwide.
Artist Lauren E. Peters was acknowledged in 2018, as the recipient of an emerging artist award. In 2023, she is recognized as an established artist, and several of her expansive portraits will be on display, including costumes and wigs.
Bryant “Tee” Bell, an emerging professional, is inspired by cultural history and learning untold stories. His work will appear in the Award Winners XXIII Exhibition.
