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Congrats to Cranbrook

Five art schools submitted entries into annual contest.

Peter Halsey Sherwood -- Interior Design, 6/28/2004 12:00:00 AM

Cranbrook Academy of Art's Heather Mae Erickson, who received a Master of Fine Arts this year, won first place in the annual Horizon Awards for student artists for "Untitled 2004", a group of functional vessels made from porcelain and Formica. The Horizon Awards are conferred by the Museum of Arts & Design in New York City and Hunter Douglas, manufacturer of residential window treatments.

Undergraduate and graduate students from five different schools are invited to submit objects and each school may submit up to five pieces. The faculty-selected entries may be from one or more disciplines including ceramics, metalsmithing, jewelry, glass, furniture, wood and textiles. Entries must be handmade and be either one-of-a-kind items or prototypes for future projects.

Second place went to Rowland Ricketts, III, a 2005 Master of Fine Arts candidate in fiber at Cranbrook, who won for his “9 for Objects”, a wall installation created from felt, pine needles, maple seeds and stones. Bebhinn Jennings, who graduated this year from Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in metal, took third place for “Neckpiece #3”, a piece of jewelry. Honorable mention to Vivian Beer, also of Cranbrook, for her steel chair called "Filled With Birds and Beasts".

For first, second and third places, awards include prizes of $5,000, $2,500 and $1,000 respectively.

In addition to Cranbrook, which is located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and NSCAD University, other participating schools this year included the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston; the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California; and the Maine College of Art in Portland.

“We believe, along with Hunter Douglas, that gifted young artists deserve to be nurtured, supported and recognized if they are to realize their fullest potential,” said Holly Hotchner, director of the Museum of Arts & Design. “The Horizon Award helps us fulfill an important aspect of our mission.”

Winners were announced on June 4.