Nicario Jimenez Takes Best in Show at the 2024 Columbus Arts Festival
For immediate release
June 8, 2024Contact: Jami Goldstein
jgoldstein@gcac.org
(614) 221-8492
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Nicario Jimenez from Naples, FL took home $4,000 and the Best in Show award today at the 2024 Columbus Arts Festival. Nicario Jimenez, located at booth 405 on Civic Center Drive, will be selling their award-winning 3D Mixed Media artwork, along with more than 225 other artists from across the country, at the Columbus Arts Festival presented by the American Electric Power Foundation and produced by the Greater Arts Columbus Council (GCAC) this weekend.
Award winners are chosen by past and present Festival jurors that judge the booths the first day of the Festival. Festival jurors represent practicing artists, curators and educators in Ohio.
Eleven other artists also won awards today. In addition to cash prizes, artists received a glass sculpture award created by Columbus artist Lawrence Tuber. Awards are supported in part by White Castle.
Award winners are invited to participate in the following year’s Festival without going through the jury process. Award winners are:
Jurors’ Choice, 2-Dimensional ($2,000 each)
- Kate Tillman, Photography (Lakeville, IN, R310)
- Lauren Lane, Painting (East Point, GA, T225)
- Lisa Norris, 2D Mixed Media (Chattanooga, TN, T224)
Jurors’ Choice, 3-Dimensional ($2,000 each)
- John Fesken, 3D Mixed Media (New Orleans, LA, M561)
- Mike Sorge, Wood (Middlebrook, VA, M512)
- Rachel McFarlane David, Wood (Reynoldsburg, OH, R319)
Merit Award ($1,000 each)
- Penny Dobson, 2D Mixed Media (Tuscaloosa, AL, M553)
- Valerie Lamott, Jewelry (Columbia, SC, R346)
- Joe Engel, 2D Mixed Media (Staunton, VA, M547)
Best Presentation ($1,000)
- Rebecca Rea, Ceramics, (Columbus, OH, R324)
Best Emerging Artist ($1,000)
- Dane Khy, Painting, (Columbus, OH, T226)
In addition to support from White Castle, funding for the artist awards comes from proceeds of the VIP Patron Package, which includes VIP access throughout the Festival and a ticket to the Patron Party. The VIP experience is sponsored by Edwards Communities.
Launched in 1962 as the “Downtown Festival of the Arts” on the Ohio Statehouse lawn, the Columbus Arts Festival showcases the best visual arts, music, spoken word, and local food and drink for three days each summer to a crowd of about 500,000 each year. Live music, great food and a relaxed, gallery-like setting provide the perfect ambiance for browsing and buying the best selection of art. This year’s Festival attracted more than 850 artist applicants from across the country for the coveted 250 spots.
Photos of the award winners are in the digital media kit.
Festival Hours: Friday, June 7 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, June 8 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, June 9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Please note: on Friday and Saturday artist booths close at 9 p.m.; artists have the option to stay open later.)
To volunteer at the Columbus Arts Festival, please go to columbusartsfestival.org/engage/volunteer.
For more information on the Columbus Arts Festival, call (614) 221-8531 or visit columbusartsfestival.org.
For a selection of high-res images, visit the Festival’s press media page.
The Columbus Arts Festival is produced by the Greater Columbus Arts Council.
The 2024 Columbus Arts Festival is presented by the American Electric Power Foundation. Additional sponsors and partners include Bank of America, Bath and Body Works Foundation, Battelle, COSI, Downtown Columbus, Edwards Communities, Encova, G&J Pepsi, Go Brewing, Graeter’s, High Bank Distillery, Holiday Inn Downtown, Hotel LeVeque, Huntington, IGS Energy, The Junto, King Business Interiors, MLS All-Star Summer Roadshow, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State University, OSA Technology Partners, Paul-Henri and Erika Bourguignon Charitable Trust, PNC Bank, Priscilla R. Tyson Cultural Arts Center, Rhinegeist, Sonesta Columbus Downtown, South Wind Motel, Toyota, Visit Savannah, The Westin Great Southern Columbus, White Castle and Whole World Lemonade. Media sponsors include ABC6/FOX28, Columbus Radio Group, Dispatch Media Group, Lamar Outdoor, Ohio Magazine, Orange Barrel Media, WCBE and WOSU Public Media.
Mission of the Greater Columbus Arts Council: To support and advance the arts and cultural fabric of Columbus. www.gcac.org
The Greater Columbus Arts Council receives major financial support from the City of Columbus, Franklin County Commissioners, Ohio Arts Council and The Ohio State University. None of these funds are used for the production of the Columbus Arts Festival.
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