ESU glassblowers dominate competition category

Four Emporia State University students are finding their functional artwork is winning critical recognition. The students dominate a competition category in the 2008 NICHE Student Awards. Five entries by the four students, Tanner Scott Clark, Jesse England, Sarah Sparks and Megan Stelljes, are among the nine finalists in the functional glass category for student artists.

The four finalists are students of Roberta Eichenberg, assistant professor of art, and Patrick Martin, associate professor of art at ESU. The students’ work is on display at the NICHE Awards website:  http://www.americancraft.com/NICHE_Awards/2008/f_student/glass.html.

The annual NICHE Awards competition recognizes the outstanding originality and creative achievements of American and Canadian craft artists who produce work for craft galleries and retail stores. To select this year’s NICHE Awards winners, jury members judged more than 1,100 entries from artists across the U.S. and Canada. All entries were judged on technical excellence, market viability and creativity.

A special display of professional and student finalists’ works will be featured at the Buyers Market of American Craft, February 15-18, 2008, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pa.

The 2008 NICHE Awards winners will be revealed at a special ceremony held at the Buyers Market Feb. 17, 2008.

Last Updated February 4, 2008>