|
 Stephen Tanis, professor emeritus of art, who retired last year, is now devoting himself full-time to his painting and has received two awards in recognition of contributions to Delaware’s artistic and cultural life. He was named the 2002 Delaware Masters Individual Artist Fellow in Painting by the Delaware Division of the Arts (DDOA) and also will receive the 2002 Governor’s Award for the Arts.
Given by DDOA based on recommendations of the Delaware State Arts Council (DSAC), the masters fellowship carries a stipend of $10,000, which, Tanis said, he will use for his painting projects.
The Governor’s Awards for the Arts have been given eight times since 1970. This year, each of the six recipients will be presented with an acrylic sculpture by Delaware artist Margaret Scott Kincannon. In addition, a documentary video about the award winners is being made, using still photographs and interviews.
The 2002 Governor’s Award for the Arts will be presented by Gov. Ruth Ann Minner, the DSAC and DDOA at a public ceremony, scheduled from 5:30-9 p.m., Monday, April 8, at the First USA Riverfront Arts Center in Wilmington.
Tanis, who joined the faculty in 1972, is a realist painter who juxtaposes different combinations of figures, objects and textures, which he meticulously paints to show shadows, highlights and details. In his current works, he is painting groups of figures and some of his paintings have Biblical themes. He also is a portraitist and has been commissioned to paint noted UD scholars.
He has had several solo exhibitions at the Sherry French Gallery in New York and the Jane Haslem Gallery in Washington, D.C., and has shown his works in several group, invitational and juried exhibitions. His works are in private, museum, corporate and university and college collections.
A graduate of the University of Cincinnati with a master of fine arts degree from the Cranbrook Academy of Art, Tanis has received a Center for Advanced studies fellowship from UD, two previous Delaware Individual Artist Fellowships, and fellowships from the Hereward Lester Cooke Foundation and the Stacey Foundation.
To request an invitation to the Governor’s Award ceremony, call the DDOA at 577-8287 in New Castle County or 739-5304 for Kent and Sussex Counties. Bus transportation from southern Delaware is available by calling 674-0402 in Kent County or 856-5241 in Sussex County.
Story by Sue Moncure
April 10, 2002
|
