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2005 Governor’s Awards In The Arts Recipients Announced; Stax Icons Isaac Hayes and Booker T. & the MG’s and University of Memphis’ Richard Ranta Honored

By Tennessee Arts Commission

NASHVILLE, TN, FEBRUARY 2, 2005 — The Tennessee Arts Commission today announced the recipients of the 2005 Governor’s Awards in the Arts.  The awards were established in 1971 to recognize individuals and organizations that have made outstanding and significant contributions to the cultural life of Tennessee, and are the state’s highest honor in the Arts. 

      "165 awards have been awarded over the years, and that’s certainly a testament to the quality of artistic talent and creative expression that is found in our state," said Rich Boyd, executive director of the Commission.
    According to Boyd, the Commission received a record number of 68 quality nominations from all areas of the state for the 2005 awards.  A special Commission panel reviewed the nominations.  Recipients were selected to receive awards in The Folklife Heritage, Distinguished Artist, and Arts Leadership categories.

            The Folklife Heritage Award recognizes folk artists or organizations who have made outstanding contributions to artistic tradition.  The award is intended to honor long-term achievements within art forms that are rooted in the traditional culture of Tennessee.

   Receiving Folklife Heritage Awards are Charlie Acuff of Alcoa, an old-time fiddle player and humorous storyteller who comes from a long and distinguished musical family tradition; and Fletcher Bright of Lookout Mountain, an accomplished teacher, arranger, and musician who has touched the lives of many Tennesseans through his musical genius and his generosity.

      Arts Leadership Awards will be presented to Richard R. Ranta of Memphis, dean of the College of Communication and Fine Arts at the University of Memphis who has played a significant role in creating the conditions and climate for the arts to grow and flourish in the Memphis community and throughout the state; and Judy Woodruff of Johnson City, executive director of the Tennessee Association of Dance, who has made a tremendous difference in the dance community of Tennessee through her support and her many seminars and workshops across the country.

   This award recognizes organizations, businesses, educators, patrons, arts administrators, corporations and volunteers who have demonstrated significant support or participation in activities which foster excellence in, appreciation of, or access to the arts throughout the state.

    The Distinguished Artist Award recognizes artists of exceptional talent and creativity in any discipline, who over the course of a career, have contributed to the arts and have helped guide and influence directions, trends, and aesthetic practices on a state or national level.

  The Distinguished Artist Award will be awarded to three outstanding recipients.  Receiving the awards are:  Hubert Shuptrine of Chattanooga, a nationally acclaimed visual artist who is known for his works in watercolor, and his skill and ability to make every picture an event to be reckoned with; Isaac Hayes of Cordova, an internationally-known Tennessean, whose artistic and musical achievements span over four decades and has played a leading role in creating what has become known as the "Memphis Sound." His soundtrack for the movie Shaft received a Golden Globe, Oscar, and Grammy Award; and Booker T. & The MG’s, a group of musicians from Memphis that helped change the world forever as the architects of soul music.  No other instrumental group has been as prolific and has influenced so many as these musicians who began their career while in high school in Memphis recording at Stax records.

   "The 2005 recipients represent the best of Tennessee.  These individuals have contributed greatly to the creative, artistic, and cultural life of all Tennesseans.  In many cases, their influence has extended well beyond our state, across the country, and even internationally.  The awards provide us the opportunity to recognize these contributions and reward them for excellence in their specific disciplines," said Nancy DeFriece, chair of the Tennessee Arts Commission.

   The recipients will be honored at a reception on March 15 in Nashville. The reception is the final activity of Arts Advocacy Day, an annual event sponsored by Tennesseans for the Arts that brings art enthusiasts from across the state to meet with their elected officials in support of the arts. The awards are scheduled to be presented by Governor Phil Bredesen later that evening at an invitation-only dinner.

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