Portland Art Museum's Arlene Schnitzer Prize goes to Seattle artist John Grade

Seattle artist John Grade has won the $10,000 Arlene Schnitzer Prize at the Portland Art Musuem . Grade is one of seven artists exhibiting in the current "Contemporary Northwest Art Awards" show at the museum. Museum director Brian  Ferriso and the museum’s curators chose Grade from the seven artists in the exhibit.

Grade's work is unusual in that his winning sculpture "was designed to be transorted to a termite infested area, and buried," according to the museum's statement.

"With its intricate lacelike gridded form, it mirrors patterns found in nature such as honey combs, metamorphic rock, and cross-sections of wasps nests. The sculpture also references the ancient grave sites and eroding villages Grade observed during his world travels shortly after his 1992 graduation from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. Constructed of wood and resin that the artist tested to determine its attraction to termites, the sculpture was designed to be transported to a termite infested area, and buried. It is one of a number of such works currently buried around the American west. Grade's work sends an eerie reminder that even mankind's most ambitious works may eventually succumb to nature's forces."

Grade's attraction to travel and the land has shaped his work, the statement said.

"His often massive, site-related constructions involve the passage of time and performance while engaging natural elements and random change to ultimately complete his sculptural works." The centerpiece of his installation in the "Contemporary Northwest Art Awards" exhibit is "Fold" (2011).

"John Grade's rigorous conceptual framework articulated by beautiful and elaborate sculptural forms distinguished his art among the other objects," said museum director Brian Ferriso. 

Grade's sculptures, documentary photographs, and videos have been exhibited in galleries and museums nationwide and in Europe including at L'H du Siege, Valenciennes and Foret Domaniale de Raismes, France; Fabrica, Brighton, United Kingdom; Boise Art Museum, Idaho; Bellevue Art Museum, Washington; Davidson Galleries, Seattle; and Cynthia Reeves Gallery, New York.

He has earned several grants and awards including an Artist Trust Foundation fellowship, an Andy Warhol Foundation Award, and a Tiffany Foundation Award. In 2010, he won the prestigious Willard L. Metcalf Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters in New York.

Bellevue Arts Museum Honored with 2011 Eastside Business Award

BELLEVUE, WA.- Bellevue Arts Museum , the Pacific Northwest's center for the exploration of art, craft and design, has just been honored with the prestigious 2011 Eastside Business Award in the Non-Profit/Community Impact category by the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes outstanding Eastside organizations that uphold a strong commitment to quality, community and innovation.

"We're so pleased to receive this important award," says Stefano Catalani, Director of Curatorial Affairs/Artistic Director of Bellevue Arts Museum. "The Museum is a vital part of the socio-economic fabric of Bellevue and the greater region. We appreciate that the business community and chamber recognize the important role BAM plays in enriching our community and as a destination for national and international travelers."

Incorporated in 1975, Bellevue Arts Museum has grown alongside the city of Bellevue. With its unique focus on art, craft and design, BAM connects people of all ages with extraordinary works by Northwest artists while bringing national and international exhibitions to our community. In 2010, BAM served over 360,000 people through its multi-faceted exhibitions and programs as well as the annual Bellevue Arts Museum artsfair. The fair, now in its 65th year and held July 29, 30 & 31, has grown to be one of the largest arts festivals in the Northwest and an important economic driver for Bellevue.

"Building partnerships with both businesses and non-profits is a core element of our mission," says Executive Director/CEO Mark Crawford. "We are proud to have teamed up with many organizations over the years to help build vibrant programs for the benefit of our entire community, and look forward to deepen our relationships over the next few years."

This week, the Museum celebrates the opening of two new exhibitions. A Northwest premiere, Think Twice: New Latin American Jewelry explores how contemporary artists across this intriguingly diverse continent express their individuality and rich cultural background through jewelry-making. Continuing its commitment of fostering Northwest artists, BAM also unveils the newest and largest installation of Seattle metalsmith Cathy McClure, complete with music, whirling lights and a buzzing 10' ferris wheel.

I'm at Bellevue Arts Museum (510 Bellevue Way NE, at NE 6th St., Bellevue) w/ 4 others

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social event (@ Bellevue Arts Museum w/ 2 others)

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