ArtsQuest 2019 Linny Award Recipients

Carol Guzy
Pinnacle of the Arts Award

Each year the Linny Awards Committee may, at its discretion, offer this prestigious award to an individual who has lived or currently resides in the Lehigh Valley and has achieved national or international distinction in the visual, literary, or performing arts. While the honoree may or may not be a resident of the Lehigh Valley, the individual will embody and recognize the importance that the Lehigh Valley has in nurturing the creative spirit. Carol Guzy was born in Bethlehem, graduated from Liberty High School, and studied nursing at Northampton Community College, earning an associate degree before a change of heart led her to the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale to study photography. Guzy began her photojournalism career at the Miami Herald, and later worked at the Washington Post. She spent years documenting everything from natural disasters to political turmoil. Guzy won her first Pulitzer Prize in 1986 for her pictures of the devastating mudslide in Armero, Colombia, was recognized again in 1995 for her coverage of the military intervention in Haiti, a third time in 2000 for her work in Kosovo, and again in 2011 for her coverage of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Guzy is the only photojournalist to have received four Pulitzer Prizes. She has been named Photographer of the Year for the National Press Photographers Association three times and for the White House News Photographers Association eight times.

David Yanoshik
Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteerism

This award recognizes one individual who has served in a volunteer leadership role in one or more arts organizations and whose hard work, dedication and passion for the arts have led to a significant difference for the organization(s) and our community. Having volunteered at Musikfest since 1984 when he was fresh out of college and crediting Jeff Parks for inspiring his volunteerism, David Yanoshik has given his time to many organizations over the years including the United Way, Civic Theatre, the Downtown Allentown Business Alliance, Dream Come True, and other organizations throughout the Lehigh Valley.

Robert and Cindy Oster, Bethlehem
Philanthropy in the Arts Award

The Philanthropy in the Arts Award is presented to an individual, family, or foundation that has made a major commitment to supporting arts and cultural organizations in the region. Winners demonstrate a substantial and sustained commitment to arts and culture, thereby playing a leadership role in enhancing access to the arts and improving the quality of life in the Lehigh Valley. Through the years, the Osters have supported numerous community and nonprofit organizations. Bob served as the CEO of Concannon Miller and was instrumental in the establishment of Musikfest. Under his leadership, the firm supported Musikfest in 1984 and continuously expanded its involvement in ArtsQuest, and other education and music programs. In 2016, Concannon Miller was honored with the Business Supporter of the Arts Award. Cindy was a nursery schoolteacher at First Presbyterian Church in Bethlehem for 20 years, a longtime Musikfest volunteer.

Just Born Quality Confections
Business Supporter of the Arts

This award is presented annually to an area business for dedication to and support of arts and culture in the region for five or more years. The award is given to a business that has a presence in, or does the majority of their business in, the region. Just Born Confections has been an avid supporter of the arts for many years in a variety of ways, including grants, product donations, volunteerism, and employee participation on area boards and committees. Just Born recognizes that a strong cultural life is important and essential to the quality of life in the Lehigh Valley. The third general, family-owned company supports programs designed to make the arts more accessible and inclusive such as the Satori music and art appreciation program in Bethlehem Community Schools, Allentown Art Museum’s Discover Art program, and Mikala’s Voice Wheels of Friendship painting program, which inspires children of all abilities. Since 2009, Just Born has partnered with ArtsQuest to present PEEPFEST, drawing up to 10,000 people to Bethlehem December 30-31 to welcome the New Year

Ricardo Viera, Bethlehem
Committee’s Choice Award

In 2018, the Committee’s Choice Award was created by the Linny Awards selection committee to honor deserving nominees that do not necessarily fall into one of the traditional Linny Award categories. For 45 years, Viera served as Director and Chief Curator of the Lehigh University Art Galleries Museum, where he established a visual laboratory and teaching collection program, as well as a nationally recognized collection of Latino and Latin American photography and video. Recently retired to Miami, he is a noted lecturer, panelist, portfolio reviewer and consultant for government arts and cultural agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private enterprise/visual art projects.

Arturo Cabrera, Nazareth
Emerging Artist of the Year

This award honors an artist from 18 to 30 years of age who demonstrates excellence in his/her field. This award is designed to honor an up-and-coming artist or an artist who has had a breakthrough year, and through his or her work has contributed to the region’s culture and community in a very positive way. Cabrera’s work, which is meant to capture the subtle nuances of what it means to be human, is featured in private collections throughout the United States and Europe and can be viewed in the permanent collections of Lehigh Valley Health Network, Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts and the Hunterdon Art Museum in New Jersey. “Humanism II,” Cabrera’s most recent solo exhibition, was shown at Dacia Gallery in New York in fall 2018.

Fatima Montero, Bethlehem
Student Artist Scholarship Award

This $2,500 award goes to a high school junior or senior in the region who demonstrates significant talent and promise in the visual, literary, or performing arts and is looking to pursue a degree in arts, art therapy, arts education, or arts administration. High school juniors to seniors are eligible for this award. Primarily self-taught, Montero has been drawing her whole life. Her Gold Key Award winning portfolio, Liberty for All, was displayed at Liberty High School and at the Scholastic Art and Writing Galleries. Montero hopes to become a children’s book illustrator and publish a line of original stories. She recently graduated from Liberty and will attend Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia in Fall 2019 to major in illustration.

Amy Putlock, Bethlehem
Arts Educator of the Year

This award is dedicated to a Lehigh Valley-based educator, teaching artist or arts administrator who has made a profound impact on students and/or the community through his or her work in the arts. This award is open to any individual working with students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, middle or high school. Following a year as an educator in Philadelphia, Putlock has served as the General/Vocal Music Teacher, Choir Director and Theatre Co-Director at Bethlehem’s Broughal Middle School for the past eight years. In addition to the six periods of classroom music she teaches daily, she directs the Broughal Choir and Southside Singers before school, as well as the Broughal Theatre and Dance Troupe after school ends. Putlock is a quarter finalist for this year’s Music Educator GRAMMY Award.

Kim Hogan, Bethlehem
Visual Artist of the Year

This award is for two- and three-dimensional visual art. Educated at the School of Visual Arts in New York, Hogan has won numerous awards for her work. Her art is featured in many private and public collections including Lehigh Valley Hospital, St. Luke’s University Health Network, the Sigal Museum in Easton and the Northampton Historical and Genealogical Society. A resident artist at the Banana Factory, she is currently using her talents to help individuals and family members affected by cancer by teaching healing arts workshops in the region.

Alex Meixner, Allentown
Performing Artist of the Year

This award recognizes a Lehigh Valley performing artist whose work symbolizes excellence in its field. This category includes but is not limited to theater, film, dance and other forms of performance art, animation, comedy, music, as well as the literary art, playwrights, and screenwriters. Meixner made his stage debut at age 6, and since then has made performing his life. He has
worked with Jack Black on the Sundance-screened Netflix movie, “The Polka King,” with Post Modern Jukebox and as an on-screen spokesperson for Hormel Pepperoni. He is also a 2007 GRAMMY Award nominee for “Polka Freak Out,” his co-led album with Brave Combo’s Bubba Hernandez. Meixner has performed at festivals throughout the region including Musikfest.