2005 NICHE Awards Winners Announced

Furniture World Magazine

Winners of the 2005 NICHE Awards were honored in a ceremony held at the Philadelphia Buyers Market of American Craft. The coveted NICHE award was given to artists in 34 categories including glass, ceramics, jewelry, wood, metal and fiber. Sponsored by NICHE magazine, the exclusive trade publication for retailers of American craft, the NICHE Awards program recognizes excellence and innovation in the American and Canadian craft industry. American and Canadian craft artists submitted nearly 1,000 entries for the 2005 competition. In November 2004, NICHE magazine announced the 138 finalists, who were invited to display their work in the NICHE Awards exhibit at the Philadelphia Buyers Market, February 18-21, 2005. Winners will be featured in the spring 2005 issue of NICHE magazine. Entries were judged on three main criteria: -technical mastery and creativity, both in surface design and form -market viability -a distinct quality of unique and original thought Applications for the 2006 NICHE Awards will be available in early spring 2005 at www.AmericanCraft.com. About NICHE magazine NICHE magazine, www.nichemag.com, is published by The Rosen Group, an arts marketing, publishing and advocacy firm. The Rosen Group also publishes AmericanStyle magazine, www.americanstyle.com, the exclusive arts lifestyle magazine for enthusiasts, and produces the Philadelphia Buyers Market of American Craft, the nation’s largest wholesale craft show. 2005 NICHE Awards Winners (listed alphabetically by category) Ceramics—Hand-built Louis and Christine Colombarini Dowelltown, TN Textured Leaf Pitcher Ceramics—Molded Libby Ware Port Orange, FL 3 Pears Ceramics—Wheel-thrown Barbara Dunshee Seattle, WA Ferris Flutter Clocks Alejandro Fernandez-Veraud Miami, FL Arc Clothing Alexis E. Schneider Santa Monica, CA Diva Wrap and Slipdress Decorative Fiber Leandra Spangler Columbia, MO And Then...Dawn Fiber—Handwoven Suzanne Lovejoy West Townshend, VT Heliotrope Fiber—Knitted Robin Bergman Concord, MA “Boiled” Cashmere Damask Coat with Coordinating Accessories Fiber—Pieced/Quilted Libby Mijanovich Marshall, NC Harmonic Convergence Fiber—Surface Design Barbara Polin Penn Laird, VA Marbled Leather Retro Jacket Furniture Alain Bélanger Montreal, PQ, Canada Mathilde Glass—Blown (tie) Bob and Laurie Kliss Fresno, CA Tall BOBtanical Randy Strong Sebastopol, CA Bonsai Bowl with Multi-Tails Glass—Flat Robin Evans Sedona, AZ Now and Zen II: Asian Chromatherapy Tower Glass—Fused William Zweifel Elkhorn, WI Fray Glass—Lampworked Roger Parramore Waynesville, NC Eclectic Set Goblets Steve Sizelove Richmond, IN Neoclassic Goblet Jewelry—Gold with Stones Lynda Bahr San Gregorio, CA Mosaic Bracelet Jewelry—Silver with Stones Cynthia Eid Lexington, MA Pearly Ends Jewelry—Fashion (tie) William Richey Portland, ME Industry Jacqueline Sanchez Atlanta , GA Forever Young Series #2 Jewelry—Gold Amy Roper Lyons New Providence, NJ Chambered Nautilus Pin Jewelry—Silver Hilary Hachey Baltimore, MD Box Bracelet Jewelry—Sculpture to Wear Chihiro Makio Somerville, MA Orange Necklace Judaica Esther Davies Berkeley, CA Spicemobile Lighting—Lamps Jocelyn Chateauvert Charleston, SC Marsh Metal—Enameled Lisa Hawthorne Coquille, OR Caribbean Carnival Metal—Fabricated/Forged Paul Freundt Talking Rock, GA Azteca Bench Metal—Hollowware Sadie Wang Silver Point, TN Copper Teapot with Tray Mixed and Miscellaneous Media Marcia Clark McMurray, PA Dance Series 2 Narrative Susan Taylor Glasgow Columbia, MO Hug Me, Kiss Me Handbag Recycled Douglas Jones and Kim Kulow-Jones Burlington, VT Chinese Checker Table Teapots Lidija Tkalcevic Mt. View, CA Flower Lady Teapot Whimsical Christopher Meck New Castle, DE Rite of Passage Wood—Carved Scott Grove Rochester, NY Missing Link Wood—Painted/Colored Mark Del Guidice Norwood, MA Split Coffee Table Wood—Traditionally Joined Paulus Wanrooij Woolrich, ME Sunburst Bench Wood—Turned Keith Tompkins Tivoli, NY Merengue