Art Jury Information

Two weeks before the Artopia 2011 event, a group of art professionals will gather at the Big Bend Cares offices to view and judge all artwork submitted. This jury will select the top three art pieces, and the artists, who will win $500 (1st prize), $300 (2nd prize), and $100 (3rd prize). The jury also selects additional best-in-show pieces, which are sold during the live auction. The winners are announced shortly after the judging event.

Stay tuned for future updates about the Artopia 2011—Art with a Heart jury, including biographies.

George Blakely

George Blakely is an ultra-light distance hiker*, outdoor enthusiast and an Artist whose work intersects with environmental issues. He has exhibited work in over three hundred exhibitions all across the country in almost every state. Currently, his favorite museum in which to exhibit his work is his own yard, where he has fabricated pole-like structures with objects that are evidence of his consumption and collection habits. One example is the use of junk mail (mostly mail order catalogs) to remake trees. He also makes large photographs and digital images that intersect with the themes of the sculptures in the yard. He currently is fabricating landscape images from a collection of a hundred thousand post cards.

* Blakely has section hiked two-fifths of the Appalachian Trail.

Cynthia Hollis

Cynthia Hollis is currently Director of 621 Gallery and an Instructor of Art History and Studio Art at the FSU Art Department. Previously, she was Director of the Millstone Institute for Preservation (2008-2010), and Art Division Director and Curator for The Brogan Museum (1999-2008). Cynthia also is an avid gardner and foodie. She hails From Kansas via New York City and Los Angeles, and has lived in Tallahassee since 1995. Cynthia holds a BFA, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY (1982), and n MAA and PhD (All but Dissertation), from Florida State University (1998 and 2001).

donalee pond-Koenig

donalee pond-Koenig earned her BFA degree at the prestigious Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY and has been doing art her entire life. She has earned many awards including 1st & 2nd place and honorable mentions. pond-Koenig has exhibited widely in the Southeast region, NY, PA & a few western states, and exhibits extensively in the Tallahassee area. donalee is a cancer survivor, and had a one-woman exhibit at the Lemoyne Art Foundation, which was the subject of a FSU documentary. donalee taught at TCC and FSU as an adjunct Professor in their Art Departments. In 2001 donalee was the winner in the Art category for Hospice as the Volunteer of the Year. donalee serves on the Board of Directors for Lemoyne Center for the Visual Arts and 621 Gallery. She is also affiliated with Art in Gadsden, Signature Gallery, 1020 Art Gallery, and the Thomasville Cultural Art Center.

Ann Kozeliski

Ann Kozeliski is the Executive Director of LeMoyne Center for the Visual Arts. Graduating from Illinois State University with a BS in Art with a concentration in Jewelry Design and minor in graphic arts. She worked as a graphic artist, art director, and publication supervisor for both the state of Illinois and Florida for over for over 30 years and is a national award winning artist in both Graphic Design and Stained Glass. Ann have been on the creative path all my life and has had numerous one, two and group shows. She has been working in Sumi-e for the past 15 years and finds it the most gratifying art form she has ever experienced. Most recently, her painting of a Snow Leopard, was purchased by the Snow Leopard Trust for their annual fundraiser Community service is another love of Ann's, she is a firm believer in giving back to the community and has served on many boards such as the Land of Lincoln Girl Scout Council, Tallahassee Trust for Historic Preservation and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Big Bend, Inc.

Amanda Karioth Thompson

Amanda serves as a liaison with schools, public agencies, private organizations, and community groups regarding arts and heritage education programs and events. She also manages the artistic component of Council on Culture and Arts's (COCA) Arts in Public Places program and oversees the exhibition jurying process. Amanda curates both the ArtPort Gallery and the City Hall Gallery and coordinates special exhibits, events and projects. She is an adjunct faculty member at Flagler College, where she teaches a course on incorporating the arts into K-6 grade classrooms. In addition, Amanda represents COCA on the advisory board of Leon County School's 21st Century Community Learning Centers. Born and raised in Tallahassee, Amanda attended FSU and holds two Bachelor's Degrees in Studio Art and Art Education, and a Master's Degree in Art Education. She has worked as an event planner in Tallahassee and is a practicing artist working in glass and ceramics.

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