5 lions named ‘outstanding’ by Kohler Arts Center director

Five lions in a project to support the arts in Oshkosh have been named “outstanding” by Ruth DeYoung Kohler, director of the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan.

The juried competition included all 33 lions in “The Pride of Oshkosh” exhibit. The artists who created each of the winning lions will receive a $1,000 award, and their lions will be auctioned off at “The Lion Ball,” scheduled Oct. 16 at the Paine Art Center and Gardens.

Proceeds from that auction and the rest of the public art project organized by the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and the Paine Art Center and Gardens will go to the Oshkosh Public Library, Oshkosh Area Community Foundation, UW-Oshkosh Foundation and the Paine Art Center to support art in Oshkosh.

The five “outstanding” lions, and the artists, are:

· Poodle Envy, by Laurie Von Endt. Kohler said it was chosen for its wit, conceptual cohesiveness and “deceptively simple yet superb execution, including the use of texture and sculpted additions.” “The silliness of this majestic creature in a pink poodle outfit actually endears us to her/him,” Kohler said.

• Oshkosh Gothic, by Christie Charbonneau Wells. Kohler chose this lion for the intriguing way it joins four icons­Grant Wood’s painting “American Gothic” and three local landmarks­to “encourage Oshkosh residents to think about the importance of these local landmarks in their everyday lives.”
• The King of the Midway, by Jim Fay, which was selected “for the spectacular way this artist incorporates a variety of materials with competent painting, thus transforming the lion into a powerful character.”
• Fur Fin and Feather and Walkin’ on the Wild Side, both by Joye Moon and Joan Mosling. The two were chosen “for the imaginative way they have been reshaped and the craftsmanship with which the reshaping was executed; for the quality of the painting and for the thorough research and captivating detail.”

Kohler also singled out three additional lions for honorable mention. They are The Lion Sleeps Tonight, by Gail Panske; SS Copperpaw, by Nick Rogge and Tamara Mugerauer; and The Paper Boy, by Robin Asbury and UW-Oshkosh University Relations staff.

Earlier this month, the lion Ivan, a glass mosaic sculpture created by Oshkosh artists Julia Flanagan and Kim Koch, won the $2,500 People’s Choice Award.

Ivan and 19 other lions in “The Pride of Oshkosh” will be auctioned off during “The Mane Event” Sept. 25 at the Grand Opera House.

“The Pride of Oshkosh” has received leadership support from the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation in partnership with the Oshkosh Northwestern and the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce.

Congratulations to ALL the winners and participants from Eye on Oshkosh. Your talents, hard work and passion for this project have helped grace our city for the past several weeks. They have also helped create a flurry of attention on the areas in which the lions were located. It has truly been wonderful to see. Thanks for your contribution to culture in the city of Oshkosh and congratulations again to you all!

For more information, call (920) 424-2242 or visit them on the World Wide Web at http://www.uwosh.edu/pride. Photos of many of the lions can also be found at: http://homepage.mac.com/tommytrc/PhotoAlbum43.html.