Fellowship Awarded to USU Professor of Art

A fellowship was awarded to Kathy Puzey, assistant professor of art in Utah State University’s Caine College of the Arts, by the Utah Division of Arts and Museums (UDA&M).

“There are so many strong artists in Utah,” said Puzey. “To be selected as an award recipient is an unbelievable honor.”

Out of 85 qualified applicants for the 2011 Visual Arts Fellowship Award, Kathy Puzey was recognized as one of two award recipients in Utah, said Lila Abersold, UDA&M Visual Arts Manager.

To be considered for the fellowship, Puzey had to submit 10 digital images of professional work, a two-page resume of her most important career accomplishments and her official artist’s statement along with an online application form.

An out-of-state juror, Kristen Evangelista, associate curator at the San Jose Museum of Art, selected Puzey as a recipient because of her demonstrated ability in the process of aesthetic investigation and creation of original works of art, Abersold said.

“The juror asked several questions concerning the combination of wood and print materials in my work,” Puzey said. “She seemed interested in the constructed aspect of the pieces and the influence nature has on me and my impact on nature.”

Selection criteria used to judge applicant entries included artistic excellence based on work samples, professional quality of original works of art, creative insights in visual interpretations, innovations in style and use of medium and exceptional and ongoing aesthetic investigation.

“This recognition from the Utah Division of Arts and Museums is ‘icing on the cake’ for an already successful year for Kathy,” said Chris Terry, interim department head for the Department of Art.

Over the last year, Puzey has added to an exemplary list of exhibitions in important venues that steadily give her a growing influence in her field, Terry said. She recently was one of four printmakers to represent the United States in a particularly prestigious invitational printmaking exhibition in France.

“This is wonderful news and an honor for Kathy personally as well as USU and the Caine College of the Arts,” said Craig Jessop, dean of the Caine College of the Arts. “We are proud of Kathy and know she has earned this recognition.”

The funds are completely unrestricted, Abersold said.

“Being an artist isn’t cheap,” said Puzey. “I plan to use the funds towards equipment, conferences, exhibition expenses and a possible artist residency in Finland.”

The Utah Arts Council/Utah Division of Arts and Museums is the oldest publicly funded state arts agency in the nation. The tradition of recognition and support of excellence continues for individual artists through the Visual Arts Fellowship Program. This year, applications were due Oct. 28, and recipients were announced Dec. 2.

Writer: Courtney Lewis, 435-797-9203, Courtney.lewis@usu.edu

Contact: Denise Albiston, 435-797-1500, denise.albistion@usu.edu