Image: Zoe Umholtz

Oregon College of Art and Craft is proud to announce the selection of five students in the College’s degree program as NICHE Student Award Finalists. The students include:

Jimin Lee- Functional Ceramics
Zoe Umholtz- Fiber Wearable
Emma Maruska- Fiber Decorative
Tricia Hoffman- Fashion Accessories and Wood
Amanda Wall-Graf- Furniture

The NICHE Awards is an annual competition that celebrates excellence and innovation in the American craft industry. Founded in 1990, the Awards recognize the outstanding creative achievements of American craft artists who produce work for craft galleries and retail stores. The NICHE Student Awards program was introduced in 1996 to showcase the exceptional craft art created by students of the nation’s art schools and programs.

This year, NICHE magazine received nearly 900 student entries from over 100 schools throughout the U.S. and Canada. Judging criteria are based on two main distinctions:
• technical excellence and creativity, both in surface design and form
• a distinct quality of unique and original, and creative thought

Winners of the NICHE Student Awards will be announced at a ceremony during the Philadelphia Buyers Market of American Craft in February 2010. The Awards are sponsored by NICHE magazine, the exclusive trade publication for North American retailers of American crafts.

Electrical Light Poles in the parking lot are now installed and electrical switch gear is being install to prepare for PGE connection.

Excavation for sidewalks around the perimeter of campus is underway.

Cedar siding continues to be installed at Thesis Building and soffit of covered walkways.

Backfill is being installed and concrete is being poured for upper courtyard/plaza.

Storefront windows continue to be installed on both the Thesis and Drawing, Painting and Photography (DPP) buildings.

Image: Heidi Schwegler
Heidi Schwegler, metals faculty, is showing “Slipping Underwater”  at PCC Cascade at 705 N. Killingsworth St. in Portland January 13-Feb 12, 2010. “Slipping Underwater” refers to a phrase that is often used when a person is about to drown. It is quiet and beautiful and says nothing of the horrible struggle and anguish that occurs just before the person slips underwater. For Schwegler, it is very similar to personal anguish.

Images left to right: Karen Kunc, Madeline Miller in collaboration with the Scripps College Press Typography Class, Julie Chen
Oregon College of Art and Craft is hosting the 2010 College Book Art Association annual meeting. A members’ exhibit entitled ‘The Assignment’ will be mounted at 23 Sandy Gallery in conjunction with the conference. The show is co-curated by former OCAC student and instructor, Macy Chadwick.
http://www.23sandy.com
http://www.collegebookart.org/cbaa_meetings_conferences

The Oregon Arts Commission announces 13 awards totaling $17,786 in this year’s second round of competitive grants that support artists’ efforts to advance their careers through the development of artistic, business or professional skills. The Career Opportunity Grants program may be used by Oregon artists to support opportunities and activities that enable them to advance their work or the presentation of their work both in and outside the state. 
Christine Clark, OCAC metals department head, received $1,500 to support expanded marketing strategies for her metal, jewelry and sculptural work through the development and use of a new website and software.
Heidi Schwegler, metals faculty, received $1,500 to support travel to two visual artist residencies and exhibitions, the Beijing International Artist Platform and the Nes Residency in Iceland.