Burlington City Arts (BCA), in collaboration with the family, friends, and community of late Vermont artist Diane Gabriel, is proud to announce the 2021 Diane Gabriel Visual Artist Award winner: Crystal Stokes. The announcement was made at a brief ceremony in City Hall Park at 2 pm on Thursday, May 13.
Based in central Vermont, Crystal Stokes works primarily in portraiture as she explores the intersection of photography and painting. Capturing moments that may otherwise go unnoticed, Stokes combines keen observation with dramatic contrasts of light and dark to investigate the beauty of the world. She has displayed her work in several venues, galleries, and group shows throughout New England. In 2020, she was chosen to create a portrait for Alchemist Brewery’s new “People Power” beer, with proceeds benefiting the ACLU.
On learning of her award Crystal states, “I am very honored and pleased to have been selected to receive the first annual Diane Gabriel Visual Arts Award. Diane’s artistic perspective goes to a depth that truly captures the spirit. Her work speaks to me in a way that continues to propel my creative processes forward. As a young child growing up in rural Vermont, I could only imagine where my artist expression would take me, I am beyond thrilled it has led me to where I am today. I’d like thank the committee for nominating me, and supporting my journey as an artist.”
BCA would also like to recognize the other talented artists who were nominated for this year’s award: Jamie Hansen, Misoo, Jasmine Parsia, Estefania Puerta, Alexa Rivera, Sharon Webster, and Corrine Yonce.
As the recipient of the 2021 Diane Gabriel Visual Artist Award, Stokes will be awarded $1,500 cash stipend and $1,000 worth of class registration and/or usage of Burlington City Art's studio facilities.
The Diane Gabriel Visual Artist Award was established in 2020 by the family of Diane Gabriel (1947-2017), one of Vermont’s most celebrated artists and educators. The award will be given on an annual basis over the next five years to emerging Vermont-based artists. The award encourages experimentation and support of an artist’s creative development, especially those artists interested in initiating innovative ideas, exploring new media, or better establishing their art-making practice.
Speakers at the award announcement included BCA Executive Director Doreen Kraft, members of Diane Gabriel’s family, Lorraine Sherman and Mark Stoler, and Crystal Stokes.
Diane Gabriel lived, worked, and taught in Vermont almost exclusively after moving to the state from New York City in 1970. Over her career, she was awarded multiple Individual Artist Grants from the Vermont Arts Council; was a fellow and resident at The Vermont Studio Center, Johnson; an artist in residence at Maine Media Workshops (formerly Maine Photographic Workshops), Rockport; and in 2003 was the inaugural recipient of Burlington City Arts' Barbara Smail Award. Gabriel received her undergraduate degree from Goddard College, Plainfield, Vermont. Her work is held in both private and public collections, including The University of Vermont’s Fleming Museum.
The award is held in conjunction with BCA’s exhibition Pivotal Moments: Selected Works by Diane Gabriel, on view through May 15.
Pivotal Moments and the Diane Gabriel Visual Artist Award are made possible by Eben Cahan, Lorraine Gabriel Sherman, Robert Sherman, and Mark Stoler.
For more information contact 802.865.7166 or visit burlingtoncityarts.org.
About Burlington City Arts
Burlington City Arts is dedicated to connecting community to the arts through creation, experimentation, and education in all forms of contemporary art. BCA offers exhibitions, special events, classes, workshops, and many other activities in Burlington.