2011 Szulinski Award
The Bette Szulinski Award for excellence in craftsmanship was awarded during the March 2012 reception. This year, we recognized Joseph Rastovich for his impressive metal sculptures.
2010 Szulinski Award
The Bette Szulinski Award for excellence in craftsmanship was awarded January 9, 2011 during the reception for the Desert Fiber Arts show. Presenting the award is Rosemary Merckx.
The winner for 2010 is Dale Brown, a multi-media artist whose work has graced the gallery for many years. Dale's most recognized works at the gallery are his carved soapstone and alabaster bears, but Dale is also an accomplished musician and painter. View this YouTube clip to hear Dale's guitar work and see a collection of his art.
We invite you to come see a wide variey of Dale's work on display at Allied Arts Gallery.
2009 Szulinski Award
The Bette Szulinski Award for excellence in craftsmanship was awarded January 10, 2010 during the reception for the Tri-City Quilters' Guild show.
The winner for 2009 is King Detrick of the Tri-Cities, WA, a multi-media artist whose work has graced the gallery for many years. King's pieces range from clocks to jewelry, from lawn sculptures to notecards. He is truly a man of many talents.
We invite you to come see a wide variey of King's work on display at Allied Arts Gallery.
2008 Szulinski Award
The Bette Szulinski Award for excellence in craftsmanship was awarded January 11, 2009 during the reception for the Desert Fiber Arts show.
The winner for 2008 is Loren Lukens of Seattle, WA a porcelain pottery artist whose work has graced the gallery for many years.
Loren’s distinctive style is shown in his shaping and colorful glazing. You can read more about Loren's creative process and see photos of his studio and current pieces on his web site.
We invite you to come see the porcelain pottery created by Loren Lukens on display at Allied Arts Gallery.
More about the Szulinski Award: In addition to the various awards presented for outstanding work in juried shows, a special award for excellence in craft is given to an artist whose work has been shown at Allied Arts during the previous year. The Szulinski Award presentation takes place during the reception for the January Featured Show, with a small exhibit of the winner’s work on display in a prominent area of the gallery.
Bette Szulinski was a long-time Board member of Allied Arts, coming to Richland as a young bride with her husband Milt, a scientist on the Manhattan Project. Bette served on the Board of Directors for many years as Workshop Chairman, generously donating her time to this and many other projects. Though Bette loved and appreciated all art, she was especially linked to three-dimensional art as she herself was a creator of many beautiful fabric treasures.
Before her death, Bette and her family set up this award to recognize artists who have demonstrated excellence of craftsmanship in a three-dimensional medium. Criteria considered for this award are originality, fine workmanship and continuity. Those artists consistently presenting their work in the gallery throughout the year can qualify for consideration.
The award winners are chosen by a committee of jurors who examine over a period of one year the work of all three-dimensional artists whose work is on display at the Gallery. The award serves as a memorial to Bette.