The Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana honored members of the area’s arts community during the organization’s Annual Arts Awards Celebration Thursday evening at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Downtown Evansville.

Local community leaders presented six awards, including the prestigious Mayor’s Art Award, to various recipients:

Mayor’s Art Award – Martha and Merritt deJong Foundation Arts Council Award – Al Holen
Visual Arts Award – Erin Gibson
Performing Arts Award – Next Act, Inc.

Young Artist Award – Emily Chamness and Cheyenne Miller Arts Educator Award – Eric Renscheler

About the Martha and Merritt deJong Foundation: The Martha and Merritt deJong Foundation is named after Merritt deJong and Martha Atkinson deJong, both natives and long-time residents of Evansville.

A successful business man, Merritt was president of deJong’s department store, the family business of fine women’s ready-to-wear founded by his father in 1896. He was also a civic leader who served on numerous boards and held executive positions in several organizations. Martha Atkinson deJong was an active member of the Junior League; the Historic Preservation Society; and the Evansville Museum. She served as chair of the Museum’s Art Committee for two terms and was a longtime member of the Board of Trustees.

Martha and Merritt, both widowed in mid-life, wed in 1970 and enjoyed a 21 year marriage filled with many of their common loves — travel, golf, and collecting art. Theirs was an eclectic art collection from all around the world and included paintings, works on paper, and sculpture by North and South American, European, Asian, and African artists. At their deaths in 1991 and 1992, the Museum received nearly 90 works of art.

The Martha and Merritt deJong Foundation was established 25 years ago as a charitable trust to support the arts and education in the tri-state area. The foundation is named in remembrance of Martha and Merrit for their generosity, inspiration and foresight in enhancing quality of life in our community. Since that time, the foundation has supported numerous guest artists in music and visual arts. Their legacy can be seen in the annual Artist-in-Residence program at the Evansville Museum, which was inaugurated in memory of the generous couple.

The deJong Foundation has also provided ongoing support to the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra, annually sponsoring the guest artist at the opening night concert since 1994. Current members of the board of the Martha and Merritt deJong Foundation include: Joan deJong, Yvette LaPlante, Eric Nicholson, Gretchen Huff, and Ashley Nicholson.

About Al Holen (Arts Council Award): Seven years ago Alisa “Al” Holen began to shape and mold University of Southern Indiana students like the ceramic pieces she’s nationally recognized for building. It was also seven years ago when she launched a now popular local fundraiser for homeless charities.

Empty Bowls Evansville is modeled after a national fundraising event designed to benefit the undernourished. The project brings together professional and amateur potters to craft ceramic bowls, and culminates with what can only be described as “the biggest soup party in town” when more than 1,000 bowls are sold at a one day event in Haynie’s Corner. All proceeds are donated, with over $25,000 raised for local hunger charities over the last two years.

Holen is the Associate Professor of Ceramics at USI. She was influenced at an early age by her father, who was an art professor. Holen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Augsburg College, a master’s degree in ceramics and a Master of Fine Arts degree in sculpture with a ceramics emphasis from the University of Iowa. She is active as a presenter in the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts Conference.

Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana mission: Enhancing quality of life and supporting economic development through advocacy and promotion of the arts, arts education, and arts organizations in Southwestern Indiana.