Artists Vie for Honoring the Future® Sustainability Award
Seventeen artists from 10 States applied for the “Honoring the Future® Sustainability Award,” which will be presented at preview night April 25, prior to the April 26 opening of the 2018 Smithsonian Craft Show. This award continues a tradition begun in 2015 to honor pioneering artists who point the way to a more sustainable future through their craft.
The award, which comes with a $1,000 prize, recognizes an artist whose work educates the public about climate change or inspires or models a sustainable response to climate change. Lloyd Herman, founding director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery, will serve as judge.
“This award showcases art that captures our attention and makes us think – about why we need action on climate change and how we can achieve it,” notes Fran Dubrowski, Director of Honoring the Future.
See images below.
Kate Cusack – repurposed zipper jewelry
Christina Goodman – jewelry about vulnerable species
Linda Kindler Priest – jewelry about interconnection of species, fragility of life
Chie Hitchner – natural materials, waste minimization
Mary Jaeger – repurposed fabrics
Mary Jackson – natural sweetgrass, resource protection
Frittelli & Lockwood Textiles – natural fiber clothing, zero waste studio
Lucrezia Beerli-Bieler – theme: balance in nature
Holly Anne Mitchell – repurposed newspaper jewelry
Lynn & K Meta Reintsema – natural fabrics, waste minimization
Valerie Seaberg – theme: balance in nature.
Amy Nguyen – natural renewable fibers, zero waste production
Sara Drower – theme: balance in nature
Laurie Thal & Daniel Altwies – coral reef crisis
Mimi Kirchner – “rescued” repurposed fabrics
Mary Jane Piccuirro – endangered species, recycled paper
Peter Petrochko – resource conservation
Media requests for permission to reprint these images can be obtained at press@honoringthefuture.org.
The 17 artists address sustainability from varied perspectives. Some highlight the impacts of climate change on animals and ecosystems. Others call for more balance in our relationship to nature. Still others offer concrete, inventive ideas for curtailing human impacts on the environment by using natural or repurposed materials, minimizing waste and conserving water, energy, and resources. “We hope their creativity will inspire the show’s 6,500 visitors to take steps to address climate change in their lives too,” observed Dubrowski.
The Sustainability Award is the result of a partnership between Honoring the Future and the Smithsonian Women’s Committee. The Smithsonian Women’s Committee produces the Smithsonian Craft Show to generate funds for grants to support education, outreach and research at the Institution’s 19 museums and galleries, nine research facilities, 20 libraries, and the National Zoo.
Widely regarded as the most prestigious juried show and sale of American fine craft, the Smithsonian Craft Show is in its 36th year. It will be held April 26˗29 at the National Building Museum, 401 F St., NW (Judiciary Square metro station) in Washington, D.C. The 2018 show will feature the work of 120 artists, chosen from a pool of approximately 1,000 applicants. All of the chosen artists were invited to apply for the Sustainability Award.
