Contemporary Northwest Art Awards Choose Jackson Artist

Two big announcements: an award finalist and an event!

Okay, wow, did you know that our very own Abbie Miller is one of only 28 finalists for the 2013 Contemporary Northwest Art Awards exhibition at the Portland Art Museum (PAM)?

Abbie is the sole artist from Wyoming who to be selected for this biennial award.

According to the museum’s literature, “The Contemporary Northwest Art Awards honors artistic merit and potential while providing an in-depth and scholarly presentation of work by several promising and/or nationally under-recognized professional contemporary artists living and working in the Northwest. The awards recipients are honored with an exhibition in the Museum’s special exhibition galleries, a full-color catalogue, exhibition-related programming, and cash awards.”

Holy Detroit, Batman! (Much of Abbie’s recent work is made of that under-appreciated material (VINYL) of auto industry cities like Detroit, where Abbie went to school.)

Abbie was nominated by an as-of-yet anonymous arts professional. Nominations came from Oregon, Washington, Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho – 239 in total!

This summer, Bonnie Laing-Malcolmson, The Arlene and Harold Schnitzer Curator of Northwest Art at PAM, has been traveling the region visiting the finalists in their studios.

According to PAM, “This fall, she will present her recommendations to the Museum’s director and curatorial staff for the final review. The Museum anticipates announcing the award recipients prior to January 2013. These artists will be featured in the 2013 Contemporary Northwest Art Awards exhibition opening in September.”

Wait, it gets better!

Thanks to Pamela GIbson and Carrie Geraci, Bonnie Laing-Malcolmson has graciously agreed to chat with the general public on August 1, 5:30 PM at The Rose. (This event replaces the last Thursday event – NO Culture Front on July 26.)

Ahem, so here is my formal announcement:

Culture Front is pleased to join forces with Jackson Hole Public Art to present:

NW MANIFEST:

JACKSON ART IN REGIONAL CONTEXT

A Q&A with Bonnie Laing-Malcolmson, curator of the Contemporary Northwest Art Awards

Wednesday, August 1

5:30 P.M., The Rose

Free admission. Cash bar.

Bonnie Laing-Malcolmson is the Harold and Arlene Schnitzer Curator of Northwest Art for the Portland Art Museum. She is the former director of the Paris Gibson Square Contemporary Art Museum in Great Falls Montana, and she served10 years as President of Oregon College of Art and Craft in Portland, Oregon.  She is dedicated to exploring the art of the five-state region covered by the Portland Art Museum:  Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.  

Be there or be square!