Awards of Excellence at ACC Baltimore

Fresh from the floor of the 700-artist show, we're excited to report the winners of the 2011 Awards of Excellence. This year's jurors were Elisabeth R. Agro and Heather Gibson of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The six artists recognized for their work are:

Taikyun Kim (Edison, NJ), whose hand-sculpted metal jewelry of oxidized silver overlaid with platinum or 24 karat gold evokes the cosmos. In Kim's work, the judges saw "a true unique voice," unlike that of any other jeweler in the show.
http://taikyunkim.com

Lisa Klakulak (Asheville, NC), whose incredible range of works in felt blew away the jurors. The consummate fiber artist makes wearable textiles, accessories (jewelry, handbags, headgear), felt for the wall (framed mirrors and compositions) and non-functional sculpture.
http://www.strongfelt.com

Myung Urso (Rochester, NY), whose "sculptural" neckpieces reminded the judges of Alexander Calder. They were impressed by the "tactile unity of materials and texture" and "incredible diversity" of Urso's jewelry.
http://www.myungurso.com

Pavel Novak (Collingsworth, NJ), makes both sculpture and jewelry (or "sculpture to wear"), with vibrant color and crisp lines in hand-cut optical glass. The judges found in Novak somebody doing something very expressive and forward-thinking.
http://www.pavelnovakglass.com

Kent Harris (Amarillo, TX) is a potter that one of judges recalled from several years ago as a talented artist, but still finding his way. Now, the judges said, Harris has found "his own voice and own path," producing a singular body of work notable for "the richness and lusciousness" of his glazes.
http://kentharrispottery.com

S. Ashley Murphy (Lincoln University, PA) stands out in wood turning for his creative use of unusual source materials: found wood, most strikingly vintage telephone poles. As the judges explained, "It takes an interesting mind to see the woodiness" in such distressed, industrial raw material.
http://www.sashleymurphy.com

Two artists were recognized for outstanding booth design:

As Peg and Awl, Margaux and Walter Kent (Philadelphia, PA), create hand-bound journals, jewelry, and other home and garden goods using antique and reclaimed materials. Their booth and marketing materials is a joyful, seamless extension of their aesthetic, and "sets a high standard for presentation," according to the judges, who were attracted to its fresh-but-vintage antique store feel.
http://pegandawlbuilt.com

Deb Karash (Marshall, NC), outfitted her booth with display cases that have dozens of individual pods, reminding the judges of an automat, and creating effective miniature stages for each piece of her jewelry. Karash also has comfortable seating stages for trying on her pieces - a perfect "marriage of aesthetic and function."
http://debkarash.wordpress.com