Thursday, June 5, 2008

Goss-Michael Foundation Announces Dallas and statewide art and music scholarship winners

By Pegasus News wire

In its continuing efforts to support and encourage promising artistic talent, the Goss-Michael Foundation has announced the winners of three $5,000 scholarships -- the George Michael Music Scholarship the Kenny Goss Art Scholarship for students from the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas, and the state-wide Goss Michael Foundation Texas Art Scholarship.

With the music winner personally selected by superstar musician George Michael and the art winners chosen by a noted panel of renowned art experts, these annual scholarships enable the Foundation to financially assist high school seniors as they embark on their college careers. All three scholarships will be applied toward tuition at the winner's post-graduate school, upon acceptance.

In tandem with the Foundation's latest art exhibit -- works by famed contemporary British couple Tim Noble and Sue Webster -- custom-designed, limited edition beach towels featuring one of the duo's more provocative works will be on sale for $150 each, with proceeds benefiting the Foundation's scholarship fund. Noble and Webster are scheduled to make a Dallas appearance this July at the Goss-Michael Foundation. They will also attend George Michael's concert at the American Airlines Center on July 13. As part of his "25 Live" tour, Michael will perform throughout the country from mid-June through August. This is Michael's first U.S. tour in 17 years.

Kenny Goss, co-founder of the Goss-Michael Foundation, along with his partner, recording artist George Michael, created the George Michael Music Scholarship and the Kenny Goss Art Scholarship to foster continued interest in art and music among high school students. Presented annually to two graduating seniors from the prestigious Booker T. Washington High School, both scholarships are awarded to students with plans to pursue their musical and artistic aspirations following graduation.

Booker T. Washington graduating visual art senior Ryan Block is the recipient of the 2008 Kenny Goss Art Scholarship. Block's work was selected by a distinguished panel of art experts including Charlie Wylie, the Lupe Murchison Curator of Contemporary Art at the Dallas Museum of Art; Eve Reid, Dallas associate for Sotheby's; and internationally-renowned contemporary art collector and philanthropist Howard Rachofsky. Block will continue his artistic pursuits at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago this fall.

Fellow Booker T. Washington music senior and accomplished violinist Scarlett Deering won this year's 2008 George Michael Music Scholarship. Entries for this annual award were reviewed and the winner personally chosen by George Michael. While Michael was presented with an exceptional collection of music entries for this year's award, Deering's performance stood out as something truly impressive. Deering will further her music studies this fall as a student at the University of North Texas.

Lubbock, Texas high school senior Claire Valdez of Frenship High School is the recipient of the 2008 Goss-Michael Foundation Texas Art Scholarship. This award recognizes a select Texas senior who demonstrates not only extraordinary artistic talent, but significant scholastic achievements, leadership, and school and community participation. A talented visual artist, Valdez is also graduating at the top of her class. Like Ryan Block, Valdez will also attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago this fall.

Additionally, all three scholarship winners will be recognized on the Foundation's website and monthly newsletter. Visual art winners will each have one piece displayed in the Foundation's gallery space. The Foundation also recently announced the winners of the 2008 Abstinence Art Contest (awarded to Hebron High School student Julia Hammer in Carrollton, Texas) and the 2008 Goss-Michael Foundation Art Scholarship (awarded to Allen High School senior Andrew Hefter in Allen, Texas), on April 30.

Currently, the Goss-Michael Foundation showcases the work of acclaimed artists Tim Noble and Sue Webster with an exhibit running May 15 through September 30. The creators of an impressive catalogue, Noble and Webster's work subtly scorns a consumer-centric culture and its penchant for excess, opting instead to celebrate nonconformist individuality.

Having met in college and fully realizing the importance of sustaining quality art education, Noble and Webster have granted the Goss-Michael Foundation the use of the scripted f***ingbeautiful design from the couples' 2002 neon piece of the same name.

The Foundation recently commissioned 500 limited edition, white cotton beach towels (34" x 70"), each inscribed with the f***ingbeautiful script in bright magenta stitching. These towels are available for $150 each, and may be purchased at the Foundation, with all proceeds benefiting the Goss-Michael Foundation scholarship fund.

Goss-Michael Foundation: The goal of the Goss-Michael Foundation is to educate and create a passion for art, with a global reach. The Foundation will host lecture series and seminars featuring recognized art personalities speaking on the art itself as well as the art of collecting. These forums will be presented to the public domestically as well as abroad. The Foundation will also offer the opportunity for young artists to see all of the different mediums created by fellow emerging artists, adding to the educational value of the Goss-Michael Collection, an art collection of works from leading and emerging British artists.

Source: The Goss-Michael Foundation

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• Arts > Fine Arts > Art and Sculpture
• Arts > Popular Music
• Dallas ISD > Dallas ISD High Schools > Booker T. Washington