Meier Achievement Awards for 2011 Gives Thanks for Work of Three Artists

Helen Coburn Meier and Tim Meier today released the names of their 6th Arts Achievement Awards. Their Foundation recognizes Chicago-based artists in mid-career who push the artistic envelope. “We give these gifts at Thanksgiving to show appreciation for their work, “says Helen.

The 2011 awardees are painter Wesley Kimler, composer and sound innovator Jeff Kowalkowski, and actor/director/stage combat choreographer Nick Sandys.

Wesley Kimler is a painter’s painter and eschews much of what’s going on in the world’s art centers. He does not work to appease his audience; he works to overwhelm them with the content, stature and the power of his imagery. He insists on good technique. Tim Meier says, “Wesley Kimler exemplifies a Meier Foundation awardee: uncompromising in his commitment to excellence and his vision.” For more information, see www.wesleykimlerstudio.com.

Jeff Kowalkowski is a free-lance composer, arranger, keyboardist and bandleader performing classical, jazz, folk, and rock music, with a specialty in experimental “avant-garde” and “new music.” His work has appeared in many and different venues in the city, ranging from the Green Mill to the Lincoln Park Conservatory, as he explores new forms of sound and music. He is also committed to new forms of participation in sound, including a “scratch” orchestra of amateurs and professionals. He is a co-founder of the Milkwood Foundation, dedicated to sound projects for underserved people. Helen Meier adds, “Jeff Kowalkowski has special insight into the effects of sound and vibrations.” For more information, contact jeffkowalkowski@sbcglobal.net.

Nick Sandys is a fight director/actor/director who moved to Chicago in 1992. Originally from York, England, he is a certified Teacher and Fight Director with The Society of American Fight Directors and his combat choreography has been seen all over the Chicago area, and across the country. He also a renowned actor and director. Helen Meier notes, “Nick Sandys takes traditional material and twists it to find meanings for today.” For more information, see www.firstfolio.org or contact npullin@depaul.edu.

The Meier Achievement Award

The 2010 Meier Achievement Award recognizes past work of mid-career arts professionals with checks for $33,333.33 (which is $25,000 & 33% for income tax).

The Foundation uses nominators. There is a research phase. The Board makes the final selection. There are no applications, no project to submit, and no outcome measurements. This follows Tim Meier’s directive, “No strings.”

Meier Achievement Awardees have subsequent honors. Among them, 2006 awardee Jim Lasko was Chicago’s 2010 Artist-in-Residence, 2008 awardee Michael Patrick Thornton was cast in a TV series in 2009, becoming the first wheelchair actor to have a love affair written in for him and received a 3Arts award. 2010 awardee Homer Hans Bryant’s Multi-Cultural dance group performed at the White House in 2010. Timeline Theatre has received numerous recognitions in the last year, including a Tony award and best theatre company of the year by Chicago magazine and the Wall Street Journal.

Past Recipients :

Jim Lasko, founding Artistic Director, Redmoon Theatre, 2010 City of Chicago Artist In Residence

James Bohnen, cofounder & former Artistic Director, Remy Bumppo Theatre

Meade Palidofsky, founder & Artistic Director, StoryCatchers Theatre

Patti McKenny, poet, librettist/lyricist

Founder of Chicago Musical Theatre Works

John Eskola, tenor, cabaret artist

Mark Messing, composer, Founder of Mucca Pazzo gypsy marching band & Lullaby Project

PJ Powers, founder & Artistic Director, TimeLine Theatre

Michael Patrick Thornton, founder & Artistic Director, Gift Theater

Homer Hans Bryant, Director, Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center

Elizabeth Doyle, composer, cabaret artist

Hallie Gordon, director, Steppenwolf Theatre for Young Adults

James Ginsburg, classical musical producer, Cedille Records

Terry Karpowicz, sculptor

Miroslaw Rogala, multi-media artist

Molly Shanahan, choreographer, Mad Shak company

Meier Achievement Awards for 2010 Gives Thanks for Work of Four Artists

Helen Coburn Meier and Tim Meier today released the names of their 5th Arts Achievement Awards. Their Foundation recognizes Chicago-based artists in mid-career who push the artistic envelope. “We give these gifts at Thanksgiving to show appreciation for their work, “says Helen.

The 2010 awardees are classical music producer James Ginsburg, sculptor Terry Karpowicz, multi-media innovator Miroslaw Rogala, and dancer/choreographer Molly Shanahan.

James Ginsburg’s vision is to promote Chicago classical artists. His Cedille Records is the label of The Chicago Classical Recording Foundation, which documents the work of Chicago’s finest musicians, ensembles and composers. Ginsburg says his goal is to showcase imaginative programs on audiophile-quality recordings. Helen Meier adds, “We applaud Jim for seeing that Chicago has an abundance of stellar musicians. With his recording projects, Jim believes he can advance musicians’ careers and serve the listening public in equal measure.” For more information, see www.cedillerecords.org.

Terrence Karpowicz learned traditional techniques of woodworking and joinery while apprenticing as a millwright. Today he makes free-standing sculpture for outdoors and indoors, small sculpture to stand on his beautifully crafted tables, and pieces to hang on walls. His work in stone, wood and stainless steel is always influenced by the interaction of wind, water, and joinery on natural materials. Tim Meier says, “Terry’s work is well crafted technically and well thought-out artistically.” For more information, see www.KarpowiczStudios.com

Miroslaw Rogala is the Foundation’s first interdisciplinary achievement awardee. His interactive multimedia work combines drawing, photography and computer skills, using the viewer’s body as a triggering device. Rogala’s eGarden Project documents Chicago’s Washington Square. The Museum of Contemporary Art showed his interactive public art Nature Is Leaving Us in 1989, and his Divided We Stand in 1997. Rogala sells still photographs from his projects online. Rogala quipped, “Writing software for art is building a paintbrush, hair by hair.” For more information, see www.rogala.org and www.miroslawrogala.com

Molly Shanahan, an innovative dancer and choreographer, has re-imagined movement from unexpected places in her body, her rib cage and abdomen. Her Mad Shak company is renowned for quite provocative concert dance performances. Shanahan says, “I take what I’ve learned and risk that spontaneous composition will occur in performance. We create order out of chaos.” For more information, see www.madshak.com

The Meier Achievement Award

The 2010 Meier Achievement Award recognizes past work of mid-career arts professionals with checks for $33,333 (which is $25,000 & 33% for income tax). The Foundation uses nominators. There is a research phase. The Board makes the final selection. There are no applications, no project to submit, and no outcome measurements. This follows Tim Meier’s directive, “No strings.”

Past Recipients :

Jim Lasko, founding Artistic Director, Redmoon Theatre 2010 City of Chicago Artist In Residence

James Bohnen, cofounder & former Artistic Director, Remy Bumppo Theatre

Meade Palidofsky, founder & Artistic Director, StoryCatchers Theatre

Patti McKenny, poet, librettist/lyricist of two musicals, song lyricist Founder of Chicago Musical Theatre Works

John Eskola, tenor, cabaret artist

Mark Messing, composer, Founder of Mucca Pazzo gypsy marching band & Lullaby Project

PJ Powers, founder & Artistic Director, TimeLine Theatre

Michael Patrick Thornton, founder & Artistic Director, Gift Theater 2009 3Arts recipient

Homer Hans Bryant, Director, Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center, in 2010 his group performed at the White House

Elizabeth Doyle, composer, cabaret artist

Hallie Gordon, director, Steppenwolf Theatre for Young Adults

Meier Arts Achievement Awards for 2009 Gives Thanks for Work of Three Chicago Artists

Wilmette residents Tim Meier and Helen Coburn Meier today released the names of their 4th Arts Achievement Awards. The Meiers annually recognize Chicago-based artists in mid-career who are pushing the artistic envelope. The Meiers also seek to recognize those artists who make significant community contributions through their work. “We give these gifts at Thanksgiving because we want to thank artists for their contributions,” according to Helen. The 2009 awardees are Homer Hans Bryant, the artistic director of the Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center; Elizabeth Doyle, cabaret artist and composer; and Hallie Gordon, director of Steppenwolf Theatre for Young Adults.

Elizabeth Doyle is a cabaret artist and composer. “We are rewarding Elizabeth for her creativity and spark and pushing her artistic boundaries by composing new musicals, including Sleepy Hollow, performed at Theatre Hikes, and a new musical now in workshop, The White City,” according to Helen. Elizabeth is a past recipient of the Chicago After Dark award. More information about Elizabeth Doyle at www.elizabethdole.com.

Homer Hans Bryant is artistic director of Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center. Bryant trains adults and youth in ballet, jazz, modern, musical theatre, African, hip-hop, Latin, and tap. The Meiers became convinced Bryant should be an awardee after seeing a student recital. “I saw a 1 1/2 hour recital of 32 Dance Camp students alone and with the 30 Youth Pre-professionals,” says Mrs. Meier. “The level of dance was way, way above a student recital. His emphasis is discipline, focus, and commitment. If a student comes in grumpy, without a smile, he has to drop and do 5 pushups.” More information about Mr. Bryant at www.cmcd.org.

Hallie Gordon is Director of Steppenwolf for Young Adults and Artistic Director for The Chicago Park District’s Theater on the Lake. The Meiers say, “We admire her program at Steppenwolf. Hallie works with a Young Adult Council of high school students, who read and discuss the plays under consideration. After consulting with a group of teachers, she prepares a training program and a study guide. Under her direction, she has brought to life such works as Huckleberry Finn, The Bluest Eye (directed by Ms. Gordon) and the House on Mango Street, all part of the student literature. She also produced a version of Of Mice and Men, directed by 2008 Meier awardee Michael Patrick Thornton.” For more information about Hallie Gordon, see http://www.steppenwolf.org/boxoffice/productions/bio.aspx?id=281&crewId=202.

The Meier Achievement Award

The Meier Arts Achievement Award is a cash gift of $24,000 recognizing the past achievements of the artists. Artists are nominated by others and the awards are a surprise. Past recipients include:

Jim Lasko, founding artistic director, Redmoon Theatre and present City of Chicago Artist in Residence

James Bohnen, co-founder and Artistic Director, Remy Bummpo Theatre

Meade Palidofsky, founder and Artistic Director, StoryCatchers Theatre (formerly Music Theatre Workshop)

Patty McKenny (deceased), song lyricist, musical book & lyricist; founder of Chicago

Musical Theatre Works (deceased)

John Eskola, tenor, cabaret artist

Mark Messing, Composer, founder of Mucca Pazzo gypsy marching band

P.J. Powers, founder and Artistic Director, TimeLine Theatre

Michael Patrick Thorton, founder and Artistic Director, Gift Theater