Tanya Calhoun, Norman W. Long, Matthew Metzger, Todd Novak, Nick Pupillo, Ken “Beady Eyes” Smith, Ursula Sokolowska, and Scott Whitehair recognized for innovation, past achievements, and community contributions
The Helen Coburn Meier and Tim Meier Charitable Foundation for the Arts today released the names of their 19th Arts Achievement Awards. Their Foundation recognizes Chicago-area artists in mid-career who push the artistic envelope.
This year, the Foundation is recognizing eight artists – its largest number – in several genres, a total of $320,000 in awards. The 2024 awardees are visual artist Tanya Calhoun, sound artist Norman W. Long, visual artist Matthew Metzger, record producer Todd Novak, choreographer and artistic director Nick Pupillo, blues drummer Ken “Beady Eyes” Smith, multi-media artist Ursula Sokoloska and storyteller Scott Whitehair.
Tanya Calhoun uses hot glue, wire, thread, and paint to create suspended, sewn, and wall-mounted works. “Tanya questions shapes and relationships among them.” Currently represented by ALMA Art & Interiors, she is a BFA graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Read more … Instagram: @t.a.n.y.a.calhoun
Norman W. Long “pierces the world and pulls sound that envelops and challenges us.” Long’s sound artistry draws on many disciplines to engage audiences on memory, place, ecology, race, culture, value, silence, and the imperceptible. Read more … https://normanwlong.wixsite.com/soundartdesign/about
Matthew Metzger received his MFA from the University of Chicago and is represented by Regards, Chicago. His hyper-realistic art “masterly challenges us to confront man’s impact on man.” He is Associate Professor and Acting Chair of Art at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Read more…http://www.matthew-metzger.com/
Todd Novak is the founder/owner/operator of Hozac Records & Books, an internationally renowned imprint representing underground artists from the past & present who may have otherwise slipped through the cracks of popular culture. Read more… https://hozacrecords.com
Nick Pupillo, founder and artistic director of Visceral Dance Chicago, is an award-winning choreographer recognized for the power and versatility in his work. A graduate of Indiana University and former dancer with Giordano Dance Chicago, he has created over twenty signature works for the company. “Nick’s vision and fortitude has created choreography and a company that is both accessible and revolutionary.” Read more….www.visceraldance.com
Kenny “Beady Eyes” Smith is a Grammy-award winning blues artist. With deep roots in the blues tradition, Kenny has created new interpretations of the legendary blues drummers as he pushes blues drumming to new innovative styles. “Kenny’s energy and passion preserve and carry forward the Blues.” Read more…https://beedyeyes.com
Ursula Sokoloska studied photography at Columbia College (1997-99), completing her BFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2001. Her images also reflect the separation of the body from consciousness and objectification. Her photographs are in many collections, including the Art Institute of Chicago. Read more…https://ursula-sokolowska.com/home.html
Scott Whitehair’s mission is to spread his love of storytelling and create as many opportunities as possible for his neighbors to hear and share stories. He produces This Much Is True, Chicago’s longest running monthly personal narrative series (since 2008), Story Lab Chicago, Do Not Submit, and Solo Sunday. He also co-hosts Story Vroom Vroom in Evanston. He teaches an independent storytelling course that has been consistently selling out for over ten years, and he has been a guest speaker at the city’s top universities. “Scott wraps a story in luminous and moving detail.”
Read more…http://www.scottwhitehair.com/
About the Meier Foundation: The Meier Achievement Award provides a cash award to Chicago-area artists in music, theater, visual arts, literature and dance who are in mid-career and have demonstrated both talent and persistence in pursuing their craft. Special emphasis is placed on overlooked or under-publicized talent who are “pushing the envelope,” that is, continuing to innovate, as well as community involvement. The awards are decided by anonymous nominators and selected by the Board of the Foundation.
The awards are in gratitude and appreciation for work already done. There are no applications, no projects to submit, and no outcome measurements. This follows Tim Meier’s directive, “No strings.”
Since 2006, the Foundation has given 70 awards. For more information, see www.meierfoundation.org.