Local artists receive honors at 33rd annual Milwaukee Arts Board awards celebration
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Tuesday night was a special night for Milwaukee artists. Four received top honors at City Hall.
"I applaud you for your drive to enrich the lives of those who call our city home," said Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson.
This is the 33rd annual Milwaukee Arts Board awards celebration, but it's only the second time the public got to submit nominations, and that took some by surprise.
"I received a message that I was nominated and then all of these people started writing to me," said Jessica Meuninck-Ganger, 2024 Friend of the Arts winner.
Jessica Meuninck-Ganger teaches art at UW-Milwaukee. Her craft is printmaking.
"Printing using stones and copper and all of that for fine art purposes, or community building. It's such an honor to be recognized for this work and it's the work I kind of help out with and sneak in when I can," said Meuninck-Ganger.
Only two were named 2024 Friend of the Arts. The other is Jacobo Lovo from Latino Arts, Inc.
"I am truly blessed and grateful that I get to be part of this ecosystem of artists," said Lovo.
The awards celebration was held at City Hall amid a backdrop of artwork created by Milwaukee youth.
"The arts are essential to our Milwaukee way of life - they are interwoven into the very fabric of our community," said David Flores, Milwaukee Arts Board.
The board also named two 2024 Mildred L. Harpole Artists of the Year, including Justin Goodrum who creates independent films.
"One of my first short projects dealed with mental health in the Milwaukee Black community and then some of the work I've done with different organizations kind of on the same topic," said Goodrum.
Fatima Laster's the other 2024 Mildred L. Harpole Artist of the Year. She's with 5 Points Art Gallery & Studios in Milwaukee.
"It's humbling, I'm actually more bashful and introverted than people think, but I’m excited and I'm happy to have support here," said Laster.
Laster's work focuses on social justice.
"So, some of it is flowers, started off more decorative, and it becomes more social focused and then some of it is about gentrification and the housing issues that are facing us as residents and businesses in my neighborhood, my childhood neighborhood," said Laster.
The board also announced 47 arts organizations will be receiving $272,000 in sustained grant awards this year.