Awards

The BSAF Awards Committee selects three artists annually to honor. Two receive an Award of Excellence and one the Media Award. At the start of each year’s festival, the committee gathers together to canvas the festival vendors to select these recipients.

The Awards Committee bestows two Award of Excellence ribbons to two artisans who show outstanding skill in his or her chosen media. These awards are based on overall quality of the artist’s work, and not on a particular piece. Criteria to judge work is based on originality, craftsmanship and skillful use of materials. The winners must create all of their work.

The third award and ribbon is the Media Award. The Awards Committee chooses one piece of work from an artist the group feels best represents the spirit of the festival. The committee searches for a piece that is an original or “one-of-a-kind”.

The selected artist will be asked for permission to use the artwork to create the next year’s BSAF logo. The Awards, Publicity, and Tee Shirt Committees create a flat art logo to be used on promotional materials such as tee-shirts, flags and banners. The artwork will also be on posters, programs, and newspaper and TV advertising distributed in a four state area. If the committee choose to purchase the artwork, it will possibly be donated to a Brookings community charitable art auction after its use.

2008 Award Winners

2008 Media Award – Leonard Tinnell, Mercurial Art

Leonard Tinnell and Katie Patten Tinnell have been creating glass art since 1978. Focusing mostly on fused glass since 1988, this husband and wife team hand-select glass sheets that when exploited emphasize design and color. The pair then create functional plates and bowls, as well as jewelry and sculpture. Leonard and Katie’s studio is located in Missoula, Montana.  Website: www.mercurialart.com Click here to view photos.

2008 Award of Excellence – Dennis Dykema

Dennis Dykema produces bright and richly textured landscapes on paper and canvas. Oil based paintings of rolling countrysides catch the energy of the fertile land of Northwestern Iowa. Dennis served as a member of the art faculty at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, IA for 31 years. He retired in 2001, moved to Spirit Lake, IA and paints full time at his studio there. Click here to view photos.

2008 Award of Excellence – Seth and Erin Auger

Seth and Erin Auger use torches to create their glassware. Metals like copper, silver and gold, along with opals and silicon are added to create eye catching bursts of color.  Spectacular pendants and jewelry are made from their own work, as well as unique glass marbles and balls. Blown glass work includes small vases, oil lamps and ornaments. Website: www.firekist.com Click here to view photos.