North Carolina Living Treasures
Brief Description
Throughout North Carolina, artists living their legacy have been honored since 1986 with
the North Carolina Living Treasures designation by the UNC Wilmington Museum of
World Cultures. This recognition celebrates the value of traditional crafts, craft artists and
their talents, and their contributions to education and society. Since its beginning the biannual
honor has recognized craft artists who are boatwrights, potters, luthiers, marqueters,
blacksmiths, gunsmiths, basket-makers, chair-makers, and glass-makers. These craft artists
reflect talents that were developed over decades of study and work and the highest levels of
achievement in their respective fields.
The North Carolina Living Treasures Award is made possible by an endowment to the
University of North Carolina Wilmington from Martin Meyerson, M.D, founder New
Hanover Radiation Oncology Center (now known as Coastal Carolina Radiation Oncology
Center), in Wilmington, N.C., in memory of his mother, Dorothy Meyerson.
The award was originally conceived by UNCW faculty member Dr. Gerald ‘Jerry’ Shinn,
who coordinated the processes until he retired and moved from Wilmington. Dr. Shinn died
January 26, 2013, in Albemarle. Dr. Shinn was an enthusiastic educator and a strong advocate
for this award. We honor his spirit and dedication this year, in 2013. The award is given
every two years. The last recipients, in 2011, were glass artists Mark Peiser and Richard Ritter.
In addition, the Penland School of Crafts was especially acknowledged for their mission of
supporting “individual and artistic growth through craft.”
Focus on Book Art
In previous years, nominations of craft artists who work in any or all of the traditional craft
fields were welcome.This year, we have decided to focus on one craft in particular -- book art. In celebration of book artists as craftspeople, we recognize active explorations of both contemporary and traditional artistic practices related to the book as an art object.
Exhibit and Reception
The North Carolina Living Treasures 2013 exhibit and reception will be held at the Ann
Flack Boseman Gallery in UNCW’s Fisher University Union. The exhibit and reception will
be co-hosted by the Division of Student Affairs, Department of Art and Art History, and
Randall Library. Details about the exhibit and reception follow:
Nomination and Selection Process
Nominations of established book artists are welcome. Nominations will be solicited from people
broadly identified throughout the state and accepted from anyone who may make a nomination.
To be selected, the artist must be a current resident of North Carolina and currently working
at the highest levels of accomplishment in the book arts. A selection committee will assemble information on each nominee and will select a person or persons to receive the award this year. We are in the process of identifying the North Carolina Living Treasures 2013 Selection Committee. Judges will include faculty from UNCW’s Art and Art History and English departments, members of the Randall Library staff and a UNCW Art and Art History student.
Placing your Nomination
To make nominations, send the following information to Sarah Barbara Watstein at watsteins@uncw.edu no later than August 29, 2013.
- Your name and contact information
- The name and contact information for each person that you nominate
Resources
