Painter and wildlife conservationist Matt Patterson of Stoneridge Art Studios in New Ipswich and MAXTMakerspace Executive Director Roy Schlieben are among the recipients of the 2024 Ruth and James Ewing Arts Awards.
Patterson will be recognized for excellence in 2D Visual Arts for his skill in hyperrealistic painting, which he uses to bring awareness to conservation and humane causes, especially those that benefit turtles, other reptiles and amphibians.
Schlieben will be recognized with the Arts Advocate award. Under his leadership, MAXT has acquired a new and larger facility, started an annual Night Market festival for local artists and artisans, opened the first volunteer-run repair cafe and opened the Sharing Arts Ceramics Center, filling in the gap left behind by the closing of the Sharon Arts Center.
Named in honor of the late Ruth and James Ewing, the awards celebrate artistic excellence and those who contribute to the flourishing of arts and culture in their local community and beyond. The Ewings made many contributions to the local arts community through their stewardship of The Keene Sentinel and through personal philanthropy. Both were directors at the artist residency program MacDowell in Peterborough. James founded the New Hampshire Humanities Council and established the James D. Ewing World Affairs Lecture at Keene State College. Ruth was active with the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music and the Grand Monadnock Arts Council.
The jury this year consisted of Laura Adams, executive director of the Jaffrey Civic Center; Petria Mitchell, co-owner of Mitchell • Giddings Fine Arts and previous Ewing Award winner; Brinda Charry, academic, novelist and previous Ewing Award winner; Cailin Marcel Manson, operatic and concert soloist, conductor, teacher and previous Ewing Award winner; an Julianne Gadoury, artist, arts administrator with a focus in equitable access to the arts and arts education and interim executive director of the Colonial Performing Arts Center.
Through the Ewing Arts Awards, The Keene Sentinel and Arts Alive partner to celebrate the diversity, excellence, and community impact of Monadnock region artists, arts organizations, and arts supporters.
The Ewing Arts Awards event will be July 18 at the Redfern Arts Center at Keene State College. For information, visit monadnockartsalive.org/ewing-arts-awards.