Marblehead Festival of Arts Announces New Award Named for Local Artist

The following information and above photos were submitted by the Marblehead Festival of Arts.

The Mixed Media Exhibit at the Marblehead Festival of Arts was started eight years ago by Don Howard to satisfy the need for artists who created their work in combinations of media that reflected a more contemporary approach to art. The new Don Howard Award recognizes this important contribution to the arts and also his many years of artistic contribution to the field of mixed media. The use of the term “mixed media” came into use around 1912 when artists such as Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque began using collage and assemblage in their work.

Don Howard’s brightly colored works and unique pieces are inspiration for creating this new Mixed Media award category. “We are pleased to add this award in recognition of Don Howard and the importance contribution mixed media has made to the arts”, states Ted Tobey, Mixed Media Co-chair.

Don’s artistic career did not formally begin until later in life. After working many years as a successful and well-traveled management consultant, at the venerable age of 59 ½, and with the encouragement of his wife, Bonnie, he enrolled in the Museum School of the MFA. There he reignited his childhood love of making art and found his unique expression as an outsider artist. His creativity and playful use of a wide variety of materials: paper, paint, images, text, and found objects is inspired and supported by his spiritual life.” His artistic contributions have helped make the Mixed Media exhibit a real crowd favorite every year we have sponsored it”, continues Tobey.

The Mixed Media Award is given to an artist who shows the mastery and mystery in combining a variety of medium. Don says: “A mixed media artist has absolute freedom of expression; is someone who does not get stuck on a table looking like a table.”

For anyone interested in entering the Mixed Media category or any of the other 11 exhibits, go to the Festival website, www.Marbleheadfestival.org/exhibits and register on-line. Registration is also available during the art drop-off dates, Saturday May 16th or Thursday May 21st. Entry forms are available in Marblehead, Swampscott, Lynn and Salem libraries or Arnould Gallery and Yankee Doodle.