Press Release: Sept. 1, 2004:WTC EXEC. DIRECTOR ALBERT LECOFF INDUCTED AS HONORARY FELLOW OF AMERICAN CRAFT COUNSIL.

CHICAGO – An outstanding group of American artists will be recognized at the American Craft Council Aileen Osborn Webb Awards on October 17, 3:00 p.m. at a ceremony at The Tenth Anniversary International Exposition of Sculpture Objects & Functional Art: SOFA CHICAGO 2003. SOFA takes place at Chicago’s Navy Pier, October 17-19. The Aileen Osborn Webb Awards honor those whose artistry and leadership have enriched and advanced the craft field in the United States. This year’s Gold Medal award will be conferred on ceramist William Daley for “consummate craftsmanship.” Honored Fellows will be fiber artist Ana Lisa Hedstrom, blacksmith Tom Joyce, fiber artist Norma Minkowitz, ceramist James Tanner and ceramist Kurt Weiser. The exceptional work of these award winners will be on display in a special exhibit at SOFA. In addition to the above awardees, Albert LeCoff, executive director of The Wood Turning Center, will be inducted as an Honorary Fellow, and Awards of Distinction will be presented to the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, R.I., and The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pa. For more information on the American Craft Council and the Aileen Osborn Webb Awards, please call (800) 724-0859 or visit www.craftcouncil.org.

AWARDS CEREMONY INFORMATION

All are welcome to the American Craft Council Aileen Osborn Webb Awards presentation ceremony at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, October 17 at SOFA CHICAGO 2003, in lecture hall 301. The presentation ceremony is followed by a reception with the award winners at 4:30 p.m. Admission to the awards ceremony and reception is free with a $12 paid entry into SOFA CHICAGO. For information on SOFA CHICAGO call (312) 654-0870 or visit www.sofaexpo.com.

“THOUGHTS ON EXCELLENCE” LECTURE

Join Gold Medal winner William Daley for his SOFA CHICAGO 2003 Lecture Series presentation, “Thoughts on Excellence for Makers” on Saturday, October 18, 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. The lecture is free with $12 paid entry into SOFA CHICAGO. For more information, visit www.sofaexpo.com.

AMERICAN CRAFT COUNCIL

The American Craft Council is a national, not-for-profit educational organization founded in 1943 by Aileen Osborn Webb. The mission of the Council is to promote understanding and appreciation of contemporary American craft. Programs include the bimonthly magazine AMERICAN CRAFT, nine annual juried craft shows (three wholesale and six retail) presenting artists and their work, a specialized library and archive and the annual Aileen Osborn Webb Awards honoring excellence in craft.