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Arts Recognition Awards 2007 |
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    Art Appreciation - Prevailing tone at
Awards Event
The headline "Art Appreciation" in the Contra Costa Times full page story (Oct. 13)
featuring five artist-honorees was a fitting harbinger of the actual awards
event, a core program of AC5.
The Twelfth Annual Arts Recognition Awards held at St.
Mary's College on October 21st brought well over 100 guests together to honor
five local artists for their contribution to the community. The Honorees, pictured left to right, were artist and teacher Robert Chapla of Crockett; author and Richmond Arts and Culture
Commissioner Sydney Metrick, PhD, of
El Sobrante; musician and
conductor of the Diablo Symphony Orchestra Joyce Johnson-Hamilton of Atherton; teacher and cartoonist Bill Leach of Oakley; and photographer John Spence
Weir of Oakland (not pictured).
Serving as speaker and master of
ceremonies was The Honorable H. Abram Wilson, Mayor of San Ramon and chair of
the Contra Costa County Mayors' Conference.
Acknowledging the
influence of his parents whose love of opera exposed him as a child to the
Saturday radio broadcasts of New York's
Metropolitan Opera, Wilson
emphasized the importance of giving young people the opportunity to experience
the arts. Admittedly, a small percentage
may grow up to be professional artists; nonetheless the ability to enjoy art of
any kind adds a dimension to our lives that is invaluable, according to Wilson. "It is what makes us civilized," he
stated. Recognizing that he was
preaching to the choir given the audience of supporters at the event, Wilson shared a
particularly dramatic statistic. Funding
for the arts in California
has decreased dramatically in the last few years, from $30 million in 2000-01 to $1 million in 2003-04, where it
has remained. Unfortunately, despite the rays of hope emanating from the
honorees and Mayor Wilson, California provides the lowest per capita funding
for the arts in the entire United States, less than Mississippi, the District
of Columbia and Guam.
In addition to a vibrant glass
sculpture in the form of a flame, each honoree received a copy of the "Keeper
of the Flame" video shown at the ceremony in which each artist talked about
his/her development as an artist. They
also received a framed Resolution from the Board of Supervisors proclaiming
October as "Arts and Culture Month" and saluting the five honorees.
Elected officials also provided certificates of recognition for the honorees. Our thanks to Wells Fargo for their grant to
support the event.
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