Legacy Trust Award Collection Announces Winners

GRAND RAPIDS, MI, June 03, 2011

The votes are in - and Josh Andrus, Elaine Hoogeboom and Michael Johnson are the three top winners of the Second Annual Legacy Trust Award Collection.

Public voting wrapped up May 20th in the competition for adult artists with disabilities, which is co-sponsored by Legacy Trust and VSA Michigan-Grand Rapids. Each Legacy Trust Award Collection winner received a cash prize and will be entered in ArtPrize 2011. Hoogeboom was one of the top vote-getters in the 2010 LTAC competition.

"We were very pleased to once again partner with VSA Michigan-Grand Rapids to host this unique art competition," said Bill Walker, CEO and president of Legacy Trust. "The skill and passion of the artists who submitted paintings, drawings and sculptures to this year's competition was both remarkable and inspiring."

Michele Suchovsky, executive director of VSA Michigan-GR, agreed, noting: "The stories behind these talented artists are amazing. We look forward to working with Josh, Elaine and Michael to showcase their works in ArtPrize 2011, which opens Sept. 21."

The three recipients of top honors in the Legacy Trust Award Collection are:
• Josh Andrus, who created "I Only Have Eyes for Blue," an abstract painting of color. The 26-year-old Grand Rapids resident was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at the age of 6. While he developed language at age 4, his words were lost by the time he reached 20. He communicates by spelling out words on a letter board, which was how he first told his parents that he wanted to try his hand at painting. He often uses color metaphors in his writing, describing the sunrise as "early morning pink" and feelings of anger and frustration as "sick yellow." Artist Shannon Harris notes that Josh has a natural ability to balance his paintings with bold strokes and vibrant colors. He works in watercolor, acrylic, charcoal and oil pastel. This is his first time entering LTAC and ArtPrize. His paintings can be viewed online at http://www.hearts4thearts.net.

• Elaine C. Hoogeboom, whose watercolor pencil drawing "Our Voice" is a series of portraiture-style paintings depicting the soldiers who died in service to the United States while serving in Afghanistan. A lifelong native of Grand Rapids, Hoogeboom worked as a social worker for more than 25 years. Three successive surgeries within four years left her with aphasia, which makes it difficult to remember words, put together sentences and decode written or spoken language. With hours of solitary time to recuperate, Hoogeboom began walking two miles each day. She took a camera along, photographing birds and flowers, then began translating the images to canvas. "As my speech receded," she recalled, "I withdrew into the world of images. I have no formal training in art. I believe that my ability to draw and paint is the gift I received in exchange for the loss of my speech." She has won multiple awards for her artwork, which has been showcased in Celebration of the Arts and Art Peers. She has entered works in ArtPrize for the last two years.

Michael Johnson, who created "Michigan Kids and Pets," a painting of 19 area children with Down syndrome and their pets that illustrates caring, friendship and happiness. The Illinois resident, who was sponsored by the Down Syndrome Association of West Michigan, began painting nearly 20 years ago and has since completed more than 500 portraits of pets, children and houses. Entirely self-taught, he works in oils, acrylics and watercolors, using bright colors freely and naturally in his work. He has been painting "Kids and Pets" for the past decade, noting that this is the largest in the series to date and took him nearly a month to complete. He writes: "I like to work with my brushes and colors. I can make a difference. I can see things, little things, people miss. I can work hard and make something beautiful." This is his second time to enter ArtPrize. His work can be viewed at http://www.artistmichaeljohnson.com.

ArtPrize, an international art competition in Grand Rapids decided solely on a public vote, returns on Sept. 21-Oct. 10 for the third year. Part arts festival and part social dialogue, ArtPrize attracted submissions from more than 1,800 artists - and tens of thousands of supporters - from around the globe.

About Legacy Trust
Legacy Trust is an independent, locally owned, Michigan-chartered bank that specializes in providing investment and wealth-management services to individuals, families, foundations and non-profits in West Michigan. Legacy Trust delivers highly customized financial and investment solutions tailored to meet the unique situation of each client. For more information, visit us at http://www.legacygr.com.

About VSA Michigan-Grand Rapids
VSA Michigan-Grand Rapids promotes creative power in people with disabilities by providing access to and opportunities in the arts. We have been serving the children, youth and adults with disabilities in West Michigan since 1986. VSA Michigan-Grand Rapids is a district affiliate of VSA Michigan, which recognizes 10 district affiliates throughout the state of Michigan. Our parent organization, VSA, the international organization on arts and disability, was founded in 1974 by Jean Kennedy Smith. VSA is an organization whose vision is to create a society where people with disabilities can learn through, participate in and enjoy the arts. VSA is affiliated with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the U. S. Congress has recognized VSA as the nation's coordinating agency for arts programs for people with disabilities. Today, VSA has affiliates in 49 states and more than 60 countries worldwide.