Governor to honor work of state artists' program

Since the National Endowment for the Arts quit awarding grants to individual artists, it's been getting harder and harder for artists to buy time to make their artwork.

Washington artists have a helper, though: Artist Trust. Since its inception in 1986, the Seattle nonprofit organization has awarded $1.6 million of donated money to artists throughout the state. Earlier this year Artist Trust distributed an additional $40,000 in relief funds from the national endowment and King County Arts Commission to artists who lost work or studio space in the earthquake.

Now the tables are turned and Artist Trust will be on the receiving end of an award.

At a ceremony next week, Gov. Gary Locke will present Artist Trust with a 2001 Governor's Arts and Heritage Award. Two individuals also are receiving the award: Carol Hassen, director of the Larson Gallery in Yakima, and Gail Tremblay, a Native American poet and visual artist who teaches at The Evergreen State College in Olympia. Locke will present each award winner with a piece of artwork by Aki Sogabe of Bellevue.

"We're excited because it is honoring both our grant giving and our information service," says Artist Trust program director Heather Dwyer. "... the day-to-day stuff, the information resources, the survival and support of artists, is really important."

With a toll free number (866- 21-TRUST ) for artists throughout the state, Artist Trust provides information on health insurance, legal referrals, help with résumés, feedback on business and grant letters, and information on emergency aid and other grant opportunities.

"A lot of times we get calls from organizations or movie companies looking for artists. For example, people on the Stephen King movie were looking for professional woodworkers so we helped them with that," Dwyer said. "To me it's the most exciting part of our job in terms of day-to-day activity. A lot of what we do is not about our own resources."

Dwyer also announced 21 new Artist Trust fellowship recipients from around the state. Each will receive a $6,000 grant for his or her work in crafts, media, music and literature. Next year artists working in dance, design, theater and visual arts may apply.

The winners are:

Crafts:

Theresa Batty, Seattle; Ké Ké Cribbs, Freeland; Thyra Moses, Wellpinit, Stevens County; Gina Pankowski, Seattle; and Anna Skibska, Seattle.

Media:

Beth Harrington, Vancouver, Wash.; Gregg Lachow, Seattle; and Tony Weathers, Seattle.

Music:

Wayne Horvitz, Seattle; Amy Rubin, Seattle; Jovino Santos Neto, Seattle; and Aiko Shimada, Seattle.

Literature:

Linda Andrews, Walla Walla; Lillias Bever, Seattle; Kary Wayson, Seattle; Adrienne Ross, Seattle; Sati Mookherjee, Bellingham; Linda Greenmun, Camano Island; James Gurley, Seattle; Deb Caletti, Issaquah; and Kevin Craft, Seattle.