8/9/2019 LT Collection Results Press Release

1/2

For Immediate Release Contact: Barbara PaneralLegacy Trust, 616.454.2852

orMichele Suchovsky, Executive Director

VSA, 616-885-5866

Legacy Trust Award Collection Announces Top Vote Getters

in First-Ever Competition for Adult Artists with DisabilitiesThree West Michigan Artists Will Showcase Their Works in ArtPrize 2010

Grand Rapids, Michigan, May 19, 2010The votes are in, and Legacy Trust and VSA arts ofMichigan-Grand Rapids are pleased to announce that three West Michigan artists were the top votegetters in the Legacy Trust Award Collection.

The artists, who worked in watercolor, acrylic and recycled metal, will showcasing their artwork in

ArtPrize 2010 after earning top honors during a public vote held in downtown Grand Rapids last week.Legacy Trust and VSA, which sponsored the statewide competition for adult artists with disabilities, willassist the artists in registering for ArtPrize, secure an appropriate venue and promote their submissions.Each artist will also receive a $500 cash award.

Legacy Trust and VSA announced the first-ever competition in March. Twenty-two adult artists withdisabilities from around the state submitted original artwork, which the public had the opportunity to viewand vote on last Thursday. Nearly 200 people attended a private reception that evening to meet and talkwith the artists and their families.

We were absolutely thrilled with the response that we received from the enthusiasm of the artiststhemselves to the outpouring of support from the greater arts, business and professional community inWest Michigan, said VSA Executive Director Michele Suchovsky. We feel that the Legacy TrustAward Collection is an excellent way to broaden the reach of artists with disabilities and encourage themto participate in the tremendous dialogue that has been fostered by ArtPrize.

The caliber of the art received was extraordinary. It was matched by the passion of the artists, many ofwhom attended the public vote and shared incredibly moving stories about their lives and their work.

The three recipients of top honors in the Legacy Trust Award Collection include:

Lane C. Cooper, who displayed A View From Above, a 300-pound sculpture thatsymbolized a birds eye view of the Grand Rapids Medical Mile underconstruction. Thesculpture was created from scrap metal, bolts, nuts, washers, nails, tubing, wire and otherdiscarded pieces. The nail-crafted workers represent different construction tradeslaborers,welders, electricians, pipe fitters and ironworkersemployed at the site. Cooper, originallyfrom Ludington and now a resident of Freeport, received his inspiration for the piece as hetraveled to Grand Rapids for medical therapy treatments after a severe car accident left himwith a closed-head injury in 2003. In order to cope with violent headaches, he used histalents with welding to create sculptures. My art helped me cope, he writes. It becamegreat therapy. My endeavors blossomed into experimenting with scrap metal items,transforming someone elses trash into unique creations. He won awards at Festival for hisartwork, which he sells through his Freeport business.

-- more --

8/9/2019 LT Collection Results Press Release

2/2

Legacy Trust Award Collection / page 2 of 2

Elaine C. Hoogeboom, who displayed Dance into Manhood, six watercolor pencildrawings on canvas displayed in a circle. The pieces represent a Native American ceremonywhere adolescent males are initiated into manhood. Hoogeboom saw the dance at a powwow

in Grand Rapids several years ago, noting The flowing of the regalia was beautiful and thedance flowed like the thoughts in my brain flow when I dont focus on words. A life-longnative of Grand Rapids, Hoogeboom worked as a social worker for more than 25 years. Achildhood injury left her with increasing back pain as an adult and led her to three successivesurgeries within four years. She began working with watercolor pencils three years ago afterher third surgery left her with aphasia, which makes it difficult to produce or understandspoken or written language. She has no formal training in art, noting I believe that myability to draw and paint is the gift I received in exchange for the loss of my speech. Shewas won multiple awards for her artwork, which has been showcased in Celebration of theArts, ArtPrize and Art Peers.

Phillip M. Siegel, who displayed Morning Gathering, an acrylic painting of colorful birdsat an outdoor feeder. Siegel is from Kentwood.

ArtPrize, an international art competition in Grand Rapids decided solely on a public vote, returns toGrand Rapids September 22-October 10 after its exceptional debut in 2009. Part arts festival and partsocial dialogue, Art Prize attracted submissions from more than 1,200 artists around the globeand tensof thousands of supporters from around the globe.

About Legacy TrustLegacy Trust is an independent, locally owned, Michigan-chartered bank that specializes in providinginvestment and wealth-management services to individuals, families and foundations in West Michigan.Legacy Trust delivers highly customized financial and investment solutions tailored to meet the uniquesituation of each family. For more information, visit us atwww.legacygr.com.

About VSA arts of Michigan-Grand Rapids Inc.VSA arts of MichiganGrand Rapidspromotes creative power in people with disabilities by providingaccess to and opportunities in the arts. We have been serving the children, youth and adults withdisabilities in West Michigan since 1986. VSA arts of Michigan-Grand Rapids is a district affiliate ofVSA arts of Michigan, which recognizes 10 district affiliates throughout the state of Michigan. Ourparent organization, VSA arts International, was founded in 1974 by Jean Kennedy Smith. VSA artsInternational is an organization whose vision is to create a society where people with disabilities can learnthrough, participate in and enjoy the arts. VSA arts is affiliated with the John F. Kennedy Center for thePerforming Arts, and the U. S. Congress has recognized VSA as the nations coordinating agency for artsprograms for people with disabilities. Today, VSA has affiliates in 49 states and more than 60 countriesworldwide.

# # #

http://www.legacygr.com/http://www.legacygr.com/http://www.legacygr.com/http://www.legacygr.com/