Mayor Matthew Godfrey, the City of Ogden and the Ogden City Arts Committee are pleased to announce the 2010 recipients of the Mayor’s Awards in the Arts. In its 10^th year, the Mayor’s Awards program and reception provide an opportunity to shine the light of recognition on individual artists, advocates and organizations that make great contributions to our community through the arts.

Marlene Barnett is being honored for her Lifetime Contribution to the Arts. She grew up in Ogden, Utah and graduated from Ogden High School, Weber College and the University of Utah, where she says, “My music teachers were always my favorites.” She performed with the Weber State Musettes and in the Ogden Symphonic Choir. Marlene went on to sing in choirs everywhere she has lived. Her love of music and the arts has lead her to work as an advocate in the arts for many area organizations. Marlene retired from Weber School District having taught elementary education for 40 years in Salt Lake City, the Weber District and various other schools around the country. She has served on the Ogden Symphony Ballet Association Board of Directors two different times and is now in her tenth year of service on that Board. She chaired the OSBA Youth Guild for the Performing Arts for six years and has been instrumental in bringing guests from the Utah Symphony and Ballet West to perform for our youth at least twice a year. A mentor to many of the young members, she has served as an advisor for nearly 15 years.

Jill Sjoblom is an Arts Advocate. She has enjoyed the arts all of her adult life and has worked to pass on that love to not only her own children, but to the children of Ogden as well. In 1999, Jill joined the volunteer docent program at the Eccles Community Art Center, where she worked to take original art packets out to local Elementary School with the Center’s “Art To Go” program. In the summer of 2008, Jill became the coordinator of the Center’s Docent Programs. She now trains new docents for the “Art To Go” program, and has revived tours of the Center’s historic home. Jill is presently working on concepts for new art packets and working on incorporating the wonderful reproduction of art works from “Pictures Across America,” a program of the National Humanities Council.

Brian Nicholson was born  in Ogden, Utah, grew up in Bountiful, and remembers the fascination of capturing his first photograph at the age of 10.  That fascination eventually turned into a career in photography. His most recent project, a compilation of documentary portraits of the people of Ogden, was published in a 12x12 inch, 328 page art book entitled, “I AM OGDEN.”  He currently works at the Deseret News and lives in Ogden with his wife, Amy and their four children, Sophie, Ian, Isaac and Katie.

Mac Stevenson has been involved in the visual arts in Ogden City for the past 48 years. He attended Weber State University on an Art Scholarship where he received his Bachelors Degree in Art Education in 1968. After teaching art for one year, Mac attended Brigham Young University where was awarded a M.A. degree in painting, drawing, and sculpting. Mac taught in the Ogden City School District for 26 years at Ben Lomond High School where he was named “Utah High School Art Teacher of the Year.” He says that after seven years of University training and twenty nine years of teaching art he now directs his energy toward teaching himself. He works in watercolor, oil, gouache, pastel and mixed media. Mac has won numerous awards for his teaching and artwork and has served the community on many boards and committees in the arts.

Arts Advocacy-Suzy Dailey (Thumbnail of Suzy)

Visual Art-Jeanine Downing (Thumbnail of Jeanine)

Arts Memorial-Dr. Dale Bryner (Thumbnail of Dr. Bryner)

This Friday's Art Stroll gave just a hint that winter is on it's way. We visited the Ogden City Arts Gallery, Universe City and the Eccles Art Center.

Ogden’s Mayor’s Awards in the Arts program began with the inauguration of Mayor Matthew Godfrey in 2001.