Public Art Commission announces winners of 14th annual Golden Paintbrush Awards

The Ann Arbor Public Art Commission has announced the winners of this year's Golden Paintbrush Awards, recognizing community members for their contributions to public art.

There are two awards this year — one shared by Jeri Rosenberg and Vic Strecher, and another going to John Carver.

Strecher and Rosenberg are being honored for their role in starting and sustaining two annual public art events — FestiFools and FoolMoon.

Carver is recognized for commissioning an artwork by Detroit artist Charles McGee for the Carver-Gunn Building, which he owns on Liberty Street in downtown Ann Arbor.

The artwork is titled "Spirit of Ann Arbor" and is a 16-foot-tall artwork made from cut powder-coated aluminum. It is a composition of abstracted human forms, depicting figures as if dancing.

The Golden Paintbrush Awards honor individuals, businesses and organizations that have contributed to outstanding public art projects in Ann Arbor.

The awards are in recognition of artworks that add interest to the cityscape, beautify the community and create a sense of place, said Bob Miller, chairman of the Public Art Commission.

Miller presented the awards at Monday night's City Council meeting, joined by Aaron Seagraves, the city's public art administrator.

Miller noted McGee's artwork is in many national and international collections, including a significant public work outside the Detroit Institute of Arts. McGee also was an art instructor at Eastern Michigan University for 18 years.

Strecher and Rosenberg are described as strong supporters of local organizations whose missions help to serve the city's youth, the elderly, the arts, education, health, and the environment.

They are said to have generously given to the University of Michigan Pediatric Cardiology Department at Mott Children's Hospital, the U-M Nursing School's Julia Strecher Scholarship Fund, the Steven Gradwohl Art of Primary Care Award, the Ann Arbor Community Foundation, Safe House, the Huron Valley Humane Society, and Project Grow.

Additionally, Rosenberg is one of the founding members of WonderFool Productions, a nonprofit dedicated to encouraging public art education and presentation.

Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.