Meryl Pataky Named 2010 NICHE Award Finalist

Jan. 4, 2010 - PRLog -- Only 70 entries out of nearly 800 submissions were named as finalists in this year's competition.  The awards program is sponsored by NICHE magazine, the exclusive trade publication for independent retailers of fine craft.

The NICHE Awards program began in 1990 to recognize the outstanding creative achievements of American craft artists who produce work for craft galleries and retail stores.  Judgin for the studen division is based on two main criteria:

           1. Technical excellence, both in surface design and form
           2. A distinct quality of unique, original and creative
               thought

Of her "Civilian Medals", Meryl says, "I was inspired by vintage military awards.  The idea of the people who owned them and the experiences of their lives as a whole, not just that of the military, was very intriguing to me. Is it possible that their civilian lives held harder challenges than their lives in the military? There are amazing and gruesome happening in everyone's lives from those in the military to normal civilians surviving the streets in our roughest cities and even teenagers living in the suburbs. Life is challenging and rewarding and these medals are for the civilians going through the trials and tribulations of life without reward."  Her work can be seen at www.MerylPataky.com

Winners of the 2010 NICHE Student Awards will be announced at a ceremony in Philadelphia on Friday, February 12, 2010, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, held in conjunction with the Buyers Market of American Craft.

Applications for the 2011 NICHE Awards will be available in Spring 2010.  For more information or to obtain images of finalists' works, email JeanT@rosengrp.com or visit www.NICHEAwards.com.

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About NICHE magazine, www.NICHEmag.com, is the exclusive trade publication for independent retailers of American and Canadian Fine craft. NICHE and AmericanStyle magazine are owned by The Rosen Group, a Baltimore-based arts marketing, publishing and advocacy firm. AmericanStyle, www.AmericanStyle.com, is an arts lifestyle magazine for enthusiasts, collectors and travelers. The Rosen Group also produces the Buyers Market of American Craft, www.AmericanCraft.com, the nation's larest wholesale tradeshow of fine craft made by U.S. and Canadian artists.