Colorado Creative Industries (CCI) today announced that Rodney Wood of Trinidad, Wayne A. Gilbert of Denver, and Armando Silva of Greeley were selected to receive the 2018 Governor's Creative Leadership Awards.
The Governor's Creative Leadership Awards honors community members who have demonstrated a significant commitment to Colorado’s creative landscape through civic leadership and volunteerism including advocacy, vision, collaboration and innovation. Winners will receive an original work of art created by Greeley artist Wes Sam-Bruce.
"This award seeks out those that are providing selfless service within the creative sector in Colorado, and inspires others by honoring their process and celebrating achievements," said CCI director Margaret Hunt.
The winners were honored at an awards luncheon on May 11, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Greeley in conjunction with the 7th Annual Creative Industries Summit.
The Winners
Rodney Wood, Artist (Trinidad) – Wood was selected in the arts and creative placemaking category for founding the ArtoCade parade and Bizarre Car Garage museum in Trinidad, which has helped enliven the art district and build community through outreach opportunities.
Wayne A. Gilbert, Poet and Performer, Art as Action (Denver) – Gilbert was selected in the arts and community action category for his advocacy and outreach with the nonprofit Art as Action, through teaching dance and poetry especially to those with Parkinson’s disease in the Reconnect with your Body program.
Armando Silva, Artist and Performer (Greeley) – Silva was selected in the arts and community action category for his projects that empower and inspire the community, especially youth, through dance, performance, and public art.
Wes Sam-Bruce, Artist (Greeley) – Sam-Bruce was selected through a call for proposals to commission original works of art that will serve as awards for the three winners. Sam-Bruce is best known for his audacious largescale, exploratory world-within-a-world-like installations that full of imagery and content that is both chaotic and centering; inviting you to explore the artwork with your full body and self. He is deeply curious about how human beings find and make meaning, the way we interact with each other, and our connections with the non-human world.