Apr 10, 2009

American Craft Council Announces 2009 College of Fellows Inductees and Gold Medal Recipient

New York, NY – The American Craft Council is pleased to announce the induction of seven individuals into its College of Fellows: Adela Akers, Glenda Arentzen, Tony Hepburn, Gyongy Laky, Wendy Marauyama, Mary Ann “Toots” Zynsky and Lois Moran (Honorary Fellow). The 2008 American Craft Council Gold Medal, for consummate craftsmanship, has been presented to ceramist Paul Soldner.

The Fellow and Gold Medal designations are among the prestigious Aileen Osborn Webb Awards, which honor those who have demonstrated outstanding artistic achievement, leadership and service in the craft field. Since 1975, the Council has bestowed the title of Fellow on a total of 254 artists nominated and elected by their peers. Those elected have demonstrated extraordinary artistic ability and must have worked 25 years or more in the discipline or career in which they are being recognized.

Each newly elected Fellow and the Gold Medalist will be featured in the October/November 2009 issue of American Craft magazine.

The American Craft Council’s 2008 College of Fellows:

Adela Akers (Guerneville, CA), fiber artist, who was born in Spain, is Professor Emeritus at Tyler School of Art, Temple University, in Philadelphia. Her woven wall hangings are in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Arts and Design, and the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, among others.

Glenda Arentzen (New York, NY), jewelry artist, has been a studio goldsmith since 1964, exhibiting her work nationally (including at American Craft Council shows) and internationally. She is a former instructor at Fashion Institute of Technology, Pratt Institute and Columbia University. Early in her career she was the recipient of a Fulbright Grant to study in Denmark.

Tony Hepburn (Chicago, IL), ceramics artist, recently retired as Head of Ceramics at Cranbrook Academy of Art and formerly was Head of the Department of Art and Design at the New York College of Ceramics at Alfred University. He is the recipient of numerous achievement awards and his sculptural work is in the permanent collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, among others.

Gyöngy Laky (San Francisco, CA), fiber artist, Hungarian-born, is Professor Emerita at the University of California Davis, and founder of Fiberworks, Center for the Textile Arts, Berkeley (1973-87). She was the recipient of a National Endowment of the Arts Fellowship and one of the first textile artists to be commissioned by the Federal Arts-In-Architecture Program. Her work, much of it outdoor installations made of tree prunings, has been exhibited in over twelve countries and can be found in many museum collections, including those of San Francisco MOMA and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Wendy Maruyama (San Diego, CA), wood artistis Head of the Furniture Design/Woodworking program at San Diego State University. She is the recipient of a Fulbright Grant to England and four National Endowment of the Arts Fellowships. Exhibited nationally and internationally, her innovative furniture is in the permanent collections of the Mint Museum of Craft + Design, Mingei International Museum, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, among others.

Mary Ann “Toots” Zynsky (Providence, RI), glass artist, was a pioneer at both the Pilchuck Glass School (studying with Dale Chihuly) and the New York Experimental Glass Workshop, where she taught. Her vessels, created with her signature “filet de verre” technique, can be found in collections around the world including the Musée des Arts Décoratifs du Louvre, Paris; Museum of Modern Art, NY; Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth; Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, Sapporo, Japan; and Musei Civici Veneziani, Museo Correr, Venice, Italy.

Lois Moran, honorary fellow (New York, NY), was Editor in chief of American Craft magazine from 1980 to 2006, when she retired after 43 years of service to the American Craft Council. Prior to the editorship, she held various Council positions, including director of research and education, director of national programming and acting executive director.

2008 Gold Medal recipient:

Paul Soldner (Aspen, CO/Claremont, CA), ceramist, taught at Scripps College and the Claremont Graduate School (Claremont, CA) for 37 years all the while remaining an active artist with over 175 solo exhibitions and 400 invitational exhibitions. His many contributions to the ceramics field include developing the “American Raku” and “low-temperature salt firing” techniques. He was founder of Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass, Colorado.

For a complete list of the American Craft Council’s College of Fellows and Gold Medalists, visit: www.craftcouncil.org

About the American Craft Council
The American Craft Council is a national, nonprofit public educational organization founded in 1943 by Aileen Osborn Webb. The mission of the Council is to promote understanding and appreciation of contemporary American craft. Programs include the bimonthly magazine AMERICAN CRAFT, annual juried shows presenting artists and their work, a leadership conference, the Aileen Osborn Webb Awards honoring excellence, workshops, seminars and a research library. For additional information about the American Craft Council, call 1-800-836-3470 or visit: www.craftcouncil.org.