BAGI Great Glass Auction 2008 Results
Emerging and established glass artists were awarded top honors for achievement at the Bay Area Glass Institute's, (BAGI), Seventh Annual 2008 Great Glass Auction, on January 26, 2008 in San Jose, California. Over 150 people attended this sold-out event, including many of the contributing artists whose work was represented. The evening was highlighted by the presentation of the 2008 Saxe Fellowship award, honoring outstanding technical ability and achievement in glass chosen in a juried competition, to Carmel, California-based artists, Melissa and Keith Bispo, for their blown, sandblasted and carved glass work, "The Eleventh Hour." In addition, the 2008 People's Choice award, selected by auction attendees, once again went to Santa Clara, California-based artist, Kathleen Elliott, for her two flameworked and sandblasted pieces, "Crouching Blue Vine with Apricot Feet" and "Apricot and Pear on Leaf Legs." Elliot was the People's Choice winner as well at the 2006 Great Glass Auction. Three other submissions to the auction were selectedfor Juror's Awards, noted for their outstanding craftsmanship and achievement in glass: BAGI teacher, Treg Silkwood, and his partner, Candace A. Martin, won for their piece, "Seaweed"; Kari Minnick, of Silver Spring, Maryland, won for her kilnformed glass work, "Note to Self"'; and, Oakland, California-based artist, Jay Musler, won for his contemporary mixed media glass piece, "Amnesia."
This year's Saxe Fellowship award winners were chosen by a jury consisting of Ferdinand Hampson, founder and owner of the original Habatat Gallery in Royal Oak, Michigan; Brigitte Micmacker, principal and co-founder of the Sculpturesite Gallery in San Francisco, California; and, world renowned collector, Dorothy Saxe, of San Francisco. As the winners of this award, Melissa and Keith Bispo received a $2,000 cash prize and a funded invitation to participate in BAGI's Visiting Artists Series. The People's Choice award winner, Kathleen Elliot, was given a $1,000 cash award.
A crucial fundraiser for BAGI, this year's auction raised over $150,000 and will provide a quarter of BAGI's operating budget for 2008. Auction proceeds will be used to help fund the Visiting Artists Series planned for 2008, a SJSU scholarship for a student to attend each of BAGI's Visiting Artist Series master classes, new equipment and continuing operations, as well as expanded offerings for classes, studio time, and key local events including the popular Third Thursday Series and home tours of local glass patrons and collectors.
"We're delighted with the public and patron response to the preview event and auction this year and appreciate the ongoing support that will help BAGI provide artistic and educational programs to both our members and the community," said Steven Aldrich, 2008 auction co-chair. "We also extend our gratitude to this year's esteemed jury in selecting Melissa and Keith Bispo as winners of the 2008 Saxe Fellowship award as well as the Juror's Award's winners. And, we thank our auction attendees as well for once again recognizing local artist Kathleen Elliot by awarding her the People's Choice award," he added.
This year's Saxe Fellowship award winners were chosen by a jury consisting of Ferdinand Hampson, founder and owner of the original Habatat Gallery in Royal Oak, Michigan; Brigitte Micmacker, principal and co-founder of the Sculpturesite Gallery in San Francisco, California; and, world renowned collector, Dorothy Saxe, of San Francisco. As the winners of this award, Melissa and Keith Bispo received a $2,000 cash prize and a funded invitation to participate in BAGI's Visiting Artists Series. The People's Choice award winner, Kathleen Elliot, was given a $1,000 cash award.
A crucial fundraiser for BAGI, this year's auction raised over $150,000 and will provide a quarter of BAGI's operating budget for 2008. Auction proceeds will be used to help fund the Visiting Artists Series planned for 2008, a SJSU scholarship for a student to attend each of BAGI's Visiting Artist Series master classes, new equipment and continuing operations, as well as expanded offerings for classes, studio time, and key local events including the popular Third Thursday Series and home tours of local glass patrons and collectors.
"We're delighted with the public and patron response to the preview event and auction this year and appreciate the ongoing support that will help BAGI provide artistic and educational programs to both our members and the community," said Steven Aldrich, 2008 auction co-chair. "We also extend our gratitude to this year's esteemed jury in selecting Melissa and Keith Bispo as winners of the 2008 Saxe Fellowship award as well as the Juror's Award's winners. And, we thank our auction attendees as well for once again recognizing local artist Kathleen Elliot by awarding her the People's Choice award," he added.