“Driven” – An Art Exhibition Supported by Volkswagen of America, Inc. and VSA Arts
An art exhibition is presented by VSA arts and Volkswagen of America, Inc. that illustrates the motivational force behind the artists’ personal vision on what moves them to create. The presentation is entitled “Driven” which involves15 emerging artists with disabilities that debuts at the Smithsonian Institution’s S. Dillon Ripley Center from Sept. 15 to Dec. 31.
The partnership of Volkswagen of America, Inc. and VSA Arts is a successful way of inspiring and building a bright outlook of people despite their other limitations. Volkswagen of America, Inc. is established in 1955, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG which is located in Wolfsburg, Germany.
VSA Arts, an international nonprofit organization was founded in 1974 by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith. Its purpose is to create a society where people with disabilities learn through, participate in, and enjoy the arts.
The work chosen for the exhibition was selected by a distinguished jury, including William A. Newman, artist and professor at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, John Perreault, art critic for Artopia, and Lisa Wainwright, dean of graduate studies at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The largest awards program is open for emerging artists with disabilities ages 16-25.
According to Soula Antoniou, president of VSA arts, this is the sixth year VSA arts has partnered with Volkswagen to identify talented young artists. Volkswagen of America, Inc.’s support helps these emerging artists pursue careers in the arts.
“Volkswagen is proud to partner with VSA arts and reveal the outstanding talents of these young artists,” said David Geanacopoulos, Volkswagen of America, Inc.’s director of industry-government relations. “This exhibition highlights the enormous possibilities that exist for their bright futures and what they might pursue.”
A total of $60,000 will be awarded to the finalists. Jacolby Satterwhite, 21, a current student at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, Md., and originally from Columbia, S.C., won the $20,000 grand prize for an oil on canvas titled, “Remission & Resilience.” The jury awarded Laurel Ebenal of Ellensburg, Wash., 1st prize of $10,000 for her digital photograph, “Faun”. The 2nd prize of $6,000 was given to E. Brooke Lanier, 23, of Rochester, Minn. for an archival inkjet print on photo rag paper entitled “Staring”.