The Alex Combs Artist Award
APPLICATION PERIOD OPEN: OCTOBER 1 – OCTOBER 31, 2017
The Alex Combs Artist Award is a designated fund administrated by Bunnell Street Arts Center for working artists to apply for financial support to explore new techniques and ideas through workshops and symposiums. Applicants must be Alaskan artists working in ceramics, painting or sculpture. The award is based on the merit of the work and proposal. Limit of one award per artist per year.
Proposals will be peer reviewed annually by the Alex Combs Artist Award committee.
Questions may be emailed to: asia@bunnellarts.org
Applications may be submitted using the form below:
2014 Award Winner: Desiree Hagen
Bunnell Street Arts Center is pleased to announce that Homer artist Desiree Hagen has been selected to receive the Alex Combs Award. The $1500 award supports continuing education for Alaska artists in painting, ceramics or sculpture. The award was established by Bunnell Street Arts Center in 2009 to honor the artistic legacy of Alex Combs, a painter, potter and ceramic sculptor. He taught art in Alaska from 1955 to his death in 2008. Combs, along with Keith Appel, Saradell Ard and William Kimura, is considered one of the major developers of modern art in Alaska, expanding art appreciation for both his students and viewers. Bunnell has awarded $7500 since 2009 to Alaska artists statewide. Previous Combs Award recipients from Homer include Steve Collins, Kathy Smith and Ahna Iredale. Desiree Hagen will use the award to attend a sculpture workshop in North Carolina with Pam Brewer at Penland School of Crafts.
2013 Award Winner: Carmel Anderson
Bunnell Street Art Center’s Alex Combs Award award winner in 2013 was Ketchikan sculptor, Carmel Anderson. Anderson received $1500 to support the cost of workshop fees and materials to study with noted fabricator Matthew West. The award affirms Anderson’s intention to create artwork using 3-D printing and other fabrication techniques for a sculpture exhibit titled Unheard Voices | Unheard Wisdom, which explores domestic violence in Alaska.
“This art show will bring to light some of our invisible population helping to make their issues of abuse known to the community at large in a new and appropriate venue through the use of visual art and public conversation. On October 15, 2013, the state Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and the University of Anchorage Justice Center released the Alaska Victimization Survey which indicated that ‘half of the women in Ketchikan have experienced violence in their lifetime.’ Public awareness is a necessary part of healing and prevention of this violence. Unheard Voices | Unheard Wisdom will exhibit life size caste and fabric sculptures that display an aesthetic beauty on this alarming social problem. Part of this show will feature an artist talk and a presentation from WISH (Women in Safe Homes in Ketchikan) in conjunction with the art.”