SJ Kids: Shamong Student Earns Honor

New Jersey student Timothy Batten of Shamong was selected by a distinguished panel of adjudicators for the Expressing Freedom exhibition sponsored by Volkswagen of America, Inc. and VSA arts, which will open at the S. Dillon Ripley Center, Smithsonian Institution in September 2002.

Timothy will receive one of seven Awards of Excellence in the amount of $1,000. Prior to his entrance in the Expressing Freedom call for art, Mr. Batten participated in the VSA arts of New Jersey (VSA/NJ) statewide touring exhibit Art Par Excellence 2001 and was selected by VSA/NJ to represent the state in the How Does Art Shape Your World exhibit sponsored by VSA arts in 2001. VSA/NJ is the state affiliate of VSA arts, an international network that promotes the creative power of individuals with disabilities.

Vanessa Young, Executive Director of VSA/NJ states, “We are pleased that a New Jersey artist is being included in this prestigious exhibit. Timothy participated in our statewide Art Par Excellence 2001 exhibit, and we also selected him to represent our state in the How Does Art Shape Your World exhibit sponsored by VSA arts last year. He is an outstanding young artist with whom we are proud to be associated.”

In February 2002, 20,000 Calls for Entries were sent to high schools and colleges around the country inviting young artists with disabilities to participate in this Call for Art. Artists were asked to submit work that reflected the theme “Expressing Freedom.” The judging panel, comprised of Dr. Jonathan P. Binstock, Curator of Contemporary Art, Corcoran Gallery of Art; Ms. Phyllis Rosenzweig, Curator of Works on Paper, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution; Mr. Chris Bradley, Vice President- Creative Director, Arnold Worldwide; and Mr. William Newman, Artist and Educator, reviewed 131 submissions before final selections.

Awardees will be honored at a reception on Capitol Hill in September 2002, followed by a month long exhibition at the S. Dillon Ripley Center, Smithsonian Institution in October 2002.

Seven Awards of Excellence in the amount of $1,000 will be given to the following talented young artists: Timothy Batten (New Jersey), Ailson Carvalho (Washington, D.C.), Gianna Marzilli (Rhode Island), Carrie Wheeler (Michigan), Ashley Youkilis (Ohio), Samantha Maggio (Pennsylvania), and Justin Duffus (California).

The Grand Prize awardee is Matthew Krawcheck from Coral Cables, Florida. The first award for $5,000 will be given to Bill Ferguson from The Woodlands, Texas. The second award for $3,000 will be given to Dana Liebermann, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who is a student at New York University.

A full spectrum of disabilities is represented in this exhibition that includes deafness, blindness, developmental disorders, Asperger syndrome, Hodgkin’s Disease, Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis and learning disabilities.

Soula Antoniou, Acting President of VSA arts states, “As reflected in VSA arts’ mission, Expressing Freedom reiterates the necessity for providing support and encouragement to young people with disabilities. Programs like this offer life-changing opportunities for young artists. We are grateful to Volkswagen of America for their generosity.”

VSA/NJ is a statewide nonprofit organization that promotes the creative power of individuals with disabilities and is an affiliate of VSA arts.

Congratulations, Timothy!

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Author: Press Release-Karen Singer