YR 37 Silly Awards
In celebration of Yosemite Renaissance returning to the Yosemite Museum after the Covid pandemic, we elected to introduce our inaugural SILLY AWARDS. The cash awards…best of show, 1st place…blah, blah, blah… were decided in April. Now, as we gaze upward into the redwood and sequoia trees, wander across meadows surrounded by granite splendor, and frolic with countless squirrels and ravens on the valley floor, it is time for some Silly Awards!
Best NHD (Not A Half Dome)
In the dog show arena, many agility and obedience events offer NBC awards, meaning (not a border collie), or ABC awards, (anything but a collie). Border Collies are fast, smart and agile, so other dogs need a break! Our Yosemite icons, Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls etc. often steal the show. This is the chance for an NHD to shine!
Nominees:
“Winter Wonder” Sandee Scott
“Misty Merced” Donald Neff
“Golden Fall” Jennifer Baker
Winner:
“Golden Fall” Jennifer Baker
OMG It’s Half Dome!
This one needs little explanation. Many entries in Yosemite Renaissance exhibits feature the icon of icons, the granite monolith known as Half Dome. The Ahwahneechee people called the dome "Tis-sa-ack", meaning Cleft Rock, or alternately "Tis-se’-yak" meaning Face of a Young Woman Stained with Tears. Either way, Yosemite would not be the same without her.
Nominees:
“Half Dome at Sunset” Nikki Frumkin
“I Lift My Eyes” Elizabeth Warren
“Springtime in Tenaya” Jeffrey Hemming
Winner:
“Half Dome at Sunset” Nikki Frumkin
Tastiest
This award arose from an inexplicable and possibly irreverent desire to “taste” the subjects of the artwork. While many images depict potentially edible flora and fauna, thank goodness our judges chose a different approach, imagining what each work of art might taste like if transformed into a culinary delight. Our tasty competitors are the result of this introspective and enticing jury process.
Nominees:
“Dancing on Water” (Tasty Texture) Lynn Hajek
“River Refuge” (Frosty Blueberry) Lilli-Anne Price
“El Capitan” (Cotton Candy Smoothie) Sherry Werum
Winner:
“El Capitan” Sherry Werum
I think it’s Social Commentary (But I’m Not Sure)
Some of our favorite artworks address social and cultural issues. Sometimes the association is obvious, other times it is enigmatic, veiled in mystery or symbolism. This award seeks to examine this fine line. In the case of “Flowers for Manzanar”, the historical and cultural connections are clear to the well-informed, but also veiled in the beauty of the Eastern Sierra landscape.
Nominees:
“Flowers for Manzanar” Jeff Skelly
“Drive By” Christine Crozier
“Ice Abstract” Rob Hersh
Winner:
“Flowers for Manzanar” Jeff Skelly
Most Likely To Be An NFT
When is a thing not a thing? When it’s an NFT (non fungible token). NFT’s have captured the imagination of investors, with some selling for millions in a buying frenzy similar to the .COM boom. Since we decided on this award, the NFT market has crashed…face planted…ouch! with many investors losing their shorts in a whirlwind of crazy speculative investing. Despite market trends, our experts agree that an NFT should be unique, engaging, colorful and iconic.
Nominees:
“Catch Me If You Can” Teresa Grams
“Stealthy” Megan Wimberly
“Yosemite” Marius Starkey
Winner:
“Yosemite” Marius Starkey