On Thursday, July 18th at 6:30PM at Keene State College’s Redfern Arts Center, The Keene Sentinel and Arts Alive will present the 10th annual Ruth & James Ewing Arts Awards. Named in honor of the late Ruth and James Ewing, the awards continue these influential figures’ legacies of celebrating artistic excellence. The purpose of the event is to recognize those who contribute to the flourishing local arts and culture scene in the greater Monadnock region. 2024 marks both the 10th anniversary of the awards and the 225th anniversary of The Keene Sentinel.
During the celebration, 11 artists, arts organizations, and arts advocates from southwest New Hampshire and southeast Vermont will be recognized with awards for excellence. This year’s honorees are: Matt Patterson, illustrator; Elisabeth Roos, costume, fashion, and fiber arts designer; Jo Dery, independent filmmaker, visual artist, writer; Paulee Mekdeci (Miss Ginger Soulless), theater and film-trained drag queen and burlesque artist; Christina Wright-Ivanova, pianist, operatic vocal coach, and music educator; the volunteer-run nonprofit Monadnock International Film Festival (MONIFF); Gavin Key, independent filmmaker, musician, and recent Keene State College graduate; Alec Doyle, local arts leader; Richard Whitney, accomplished portrait and landscape artist, author, and educator; MAXT Makerspace Executive Director Roy Schlieben; arts supporters Brewbakers Cafe.
The award ceremony will include winners performing live dance and music, screenings of short films produced by winners, a pop-up onsite gallery with the work of other award recipients, and video interviews featuring the wisdom and stories of each of the honorees. The winners are profiled in a special glossy magazine that is published each summer by the Sentinel, which will be released at the awards event.
Doors open at 6:30, and the ceremony starts at 7. This year, the event has a masquerade party theme, and attendees are encouraged to wear costumes and masks. Light refreshments and desserts will be served after the presentation. Tickets are $30. For more information, visit www.monadnockartsalive.org/ewing-arts-awards or www.sentinelsource.com.
