Albany Community Foundation Announces Artist of the Year Awards

The is pleased to announce the winners of their Artists of the Year for 2012. has been selected as the Visual Artist and is the Performing Artist of the Year.

Dorothy describes her work using photography as a way to tell stories. “I love photography as a storytelling medium. It is challenging and interesting to try to show the essence of a person or place in images. It was my privilege to work with the and the on the Centennial project '100 Images of Albany at 100.' And I loved working on the series for Albany Patch. It was fascinating and fun to meet so many talented people and tell their stories through photo essays. I like to keep storytelling in mind when I work with portrait clients. I want to learn about them, so together we can create authentic images that show who they are right now. Photographs are like time machines; they tell our stories to future generations. There is such value in that. I feel so lucky to live in a town that values creativity, whether in music, theater, or visual arts.”

In addition to being a regular contributor to Albany Patch, Dorothy has had two photo essays published in Rear Curtain, and she teaches a photography class called through the Albany Recreation & Community Services Department.

You can see her portrait work at http://dorothybrown.zenfolio.com.

Mary Stocker has taught in the Albany schools as a vocal music and guitar teacher for four years, all four at Albany High and three at Albany Middle. In addition, she is in her second full year as the Albany Community Choir director. The Albany Middle School Chamber Singers and Albany High's Vocal Soul have performed at numerous community events and locations, including the Arts and Green Festivals, AEF's Ice Cream Social, the Albany Senior Center, and at City Hall. Mary has been a music teacher for over eight years and a piano accompanist for over sixteen. She has performed as a vocalist with her former barbershop quartet and as an operatic soloist in video game music concerts.

Congratulations to our 2012 winners.  They will receive their awards at the Albany Arts and Green Festival on Sunday, May 6 at 1:15. The Festival which takes place in Memorial Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. will feature performances by local artists as well as art available for purchase and a variety of booths hosted by green organizations with ideas on more sustainable living.  For more information about the Arts and Green Festival, .

Former winners of the Albany Community Foundation’s Artist of the Year award include:

Lisa Norman 2010 Visual Artist

Albany High School Jazz Band  2010 Preforming Artist

Joanna Pippen 2009 Visual Artist

Sarah Samonsky 2009 Performing Artist

Mark Van Bronkhorst 2008 Visual Artist

Rhythm Bound 2008 Performing Artist

Susan Adame 2007 Visual Artist

Bob Slous 2007 Performing Artist

Ernie Douglas 2006

Joan Sextro 2005

Congratulations to Dorothy Brown and Mary Stocker, our 2012 winners. For more information about the Albany Community Foundation plese see our web site, http://albanycommunityfoundation.org.