Governor's Awards for Excellence in the Arts
(New Mexico's Most Prestigious Artistic Honor)September, 2009
Information about 2009 Awards September 25, 2009
Governor's Gallery
Fourth Floor, State Capitol
3:30 – 4:30 pmAwards Ceremony
New Mexico Museum of Art - St. Francis Auditorium
5:15 to 7:00 pm
Governor Bill Richardson and First Lady Barbara Richardson, along with the New Mexico Arts Commission, have announced the eight artists and arts supporters who will be recipients of the 2009 Governor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts.
“Arts and cultural activities define New Mexico as they do few other places in the world,” said Governor Richardson. “I am very proud of these exceptional artists and contributors, and I applaud the important work they do in our communities each and every day.”
First Lady Barbara Richardson said, "The Governor and I urge all New Mexicans to join us in applauding this year's Arts Awards winners. Their works contribute significantly to the cultural life of our state and remind us why this is the Land of Enchantment."Stephen Hansen of Las Cruces for Sculpture
Tom Joyce of Santa Fe for Blacksmithing and Sculpture
Joseph Lonewolf of Santa Clara Pueblo for Pottery
Carmella Padilla of Santa Fe for Literary Arts
Edward Vega of Albuquerque for Sculpture
Elaine Wiggins Howe of Roswell – Major Contributor to the Arts
William A. Miller of Santa Fe – Major Contributor to the Arts
Pasatiempo, the Santa Fe New Mexican’s Arts and Entertainment Magazine – Major Contributor to the ArtsThe 2009 Governor’s Arts Awards ceremonies will be held on Friday evening, September 25, 5:15 to 7:00 pm at the St. Francis Auditorium, New Mexico Museum of Art in Santa Fe. The ceremony is preceded by an afternoon reception and exhibition opening, 3:30 – 4:30 pm, in the Governor’s Gallery, 4th Floor, State Capitol. Both the awards ceremony and gallery reception are free and open to the public.
The Governor's Arts Awards were established in 1974 by Governor Bruce King and First Lady Alice King to celebrate the enormous roles – both economic and cultural – that artists, craftspeople and arts supporters play in the life of New Mexico. During its 36-year existence, a diverse and prestigious list of painters, weavers, sculptors, dancers, musicians, storytellers, poets, actors, playwrights and potters have been honored. Past awardees include Georgia O’Keeffe, Laura Gilpin, Max Evans, Wilson Hurley, Joy Harjo, Bill Mauldin, John Nichols, Pablita Velarde and Cipriano Vigil.
Nominations for the awards are invited each year from arts groups and interested New Mexicans. All nominations are reviewed by a committee of the New Mexico Arts Commission, which sends its recommendations to the full Commission and to the Governor. The 2009 Awards Selection Committee consisted of Charmay Allred of Santa Fe as Chairperson, Bob Cooper of Albuquerque, Glenn Cutter of Mesilla, John Rohovec of Silver City, Janice Spence of Hobbs, who chairs the New Mexico Arts Commission, and Chuck Zimmer, manager of the state public art program for New Mexico Arts. Loie Fecteau, executive director of New Mexico Arts, and program manager Virginia Castellano served on the committee in a nonvoting capacity.
PDF attachment contains full release with awardees’ biographies. full press release
nomination form: (pdf: 186KB)
New Mexico Arts - A Division of the Department of Cultural Affairs
P.O. Box 1450 Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504-1450
Tel: 505-827-6490 • Fax: 505-827-6043 • Instate: 1-800-879-4278