Story last updated at 2/1/2011 - 4:58 pm
JUNEAU - The Juneau Arts & Humanities Council has announced the recipients for the Fourth Annual Mayor's Awards for the Arts, to be presented at the Sunday Wearable Arts Extravaganza on Feb. 13 at 3 pm, at Centennial Hall.
Artist: Della Cheney, a weaver of red and yellow cedar bark, Ravens Tail weaving, and spruce root weaving. She teaches both traditional and contemporary styles, and has taught over 150 people from children to adults to weave. Ms. Cheney placed "Best in Show" for her piece "The Women of Justice" Ravens Tail Robe, and place 2nd in the Traditional Art for her piece "Dajang," a red and yellow cedar bark hat in the Sealaska Juried Art Show.
Arts in Education: MK MacNaughton, for her "seismic impact on the community" using her skill in helping anyone realize their artistic talents. A talented artist herself, MacNaughton performs in Perseverance plays, is a sculptress, a painter, and an inspiration. She taught at Harborview Elementary School, and now is the program developer for the Canvas, opening that community space to music, dance, drama, ceramics, sculpture, and more, all with brilliant enthusiasm. Her generosity and willingness to try new and exciting things daily make Juneau a richer place.
Business Leadership in the Arts: Elgee Rehfeld Mertz, CPAs, for their years of providing tax and accounting support to many small and large not-for-profit organizations in Juneau, including the Juneau Arts & Humanities Council, Juneau Jazz and Classics, the Glacier Swim Club, Juneau Symphony, Perseverance Theatre, and more. They generously offer their services to give workshops and training to boards on how to set up the bookkeeping systems, changes in the IRS reporting requirements, and are available for advice as needed. The company's policy is that all partners and junior partners become active in the community as board members, committee members, and volunteers, epitomizing the best in corporate citizenship and contributing to the well-being of the community.
Innovative Application of the Arts: Aaron Elmore, Katie Jensen and Theatre in the Rough, especially for their ambitious and tireless commitment to the rebuilding of McPhetres Hall. While their prime focus is theatre arts and the troupe has already received a Governor's Award for the Arts for their accomplishments in that arena, they never lose sight of what Juneau's broader needs are. The new McPhetres Hall will serve an array of people and groups, once again as a community hall, thanks to their efforts.
Lifetime Achievement in the Arts: Susan Burke, for her nearly 30 years of board service to arts organizations in Juneau. She recently stepped down after ten years as president of the Juneau Symphony. During those 30 years she served as president of the Juneau Lyric Opera and president of the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council. She chaired the Performing Arts Center Commission, and performs regularly in the cello section of the Symphony. Juneau has benefited tremendously from her leadership in the arts through the years.
Patron of the Arts: The award this year is shared by Sharon Gaiptman, Deborah Smith, and Missouri Smyth, in recognition of their teamwork to produce King Island Christmas, a benefit for the Juneau Arts Endowment in honor of George and Jean Rogers, and Rie Munoz. Each of these individuals has worked tirelessly to support the arts in Juneau for many, many years:
Sharon Gaiptman has served on the board of Jazz & Classics, for Perseverance Theatre, been a performer, a generous donor, and effective fundraiser for the arts in the community. She promotes the arts in her current role on KINY's Capital Chat, and leads others to a greater appreciation of the arts.
A long-time resident of Juneau, Deb Smith's contributions over many years range from singing to acting to directing and producing - as well as a supporter/patron of the Juneau's arts community. She served on the board of the Juneau-Douglas Little Theatre for many years, directed the Council's Wearable Art Show for several seasons, and assisted Perseverance Theatre with their Salmon-chanted Evening fundraising event.
Missouri Smyth is the artistic director for the Alaska Youth Choir as well as the vocal and strings teacher for Floyd Dryden Middle School. She is committed to ensuring that "...beautiful music is a living presence in the lives of our children and future prosperity." Through her efforts, young people in our community are instilled with the high standards, self-discipline, and teamwork as well as extraordinary musicianship. Her commitment to community through the arts has changed life in Juneau.
Volunteer for the Arts: Daniel Beason, for his 13 years as the regular weekend volunteer at the Juneau City Museum. In addition, Dan attends every art event in Juneau that it is physically possible to attend, from high school performances to professional productions. He plans out his weekly calendar to allow him to do this. He is usually the first one at the events, and cheerfully steps in to assist the event staff if need be. His dedication to the arts in our community as a volunteer and patron is unmatched.
