Friday, June 26, 2009
Michael Aakhus named Artist of the Year
 Michael Aakhus, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts, is the Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana's 2009 Artist of the Year. The arts council's annual award winners were announced at a press conference on Thursday, June 25.In announcing the award, Mary Jane Schenk, executive director, said, "Michael's long career as a professional award-winning exhibition painter and arts educator is well known throughout our community. His works have been exhibited in solo and juried exhibitions throughout the country and in Mexico and are part of numerous important private collections. "Michael's accomplishments as both painter and printmaker extend far beyond the academic environment through his beautifully conceived impressionistic landscapes and cultural images of Latin America." ( See examples of Michael Aakhus's artwork here) "Michael is a wonderful and compassionate teacher who is highly admired by his students. He has organized and led numerous community and student trips to Mexico and Latin America over the years. " Aakhus joined USI as a faculty member in the art department in 1977. He was promoted to associate professor in 1987 and professor in 1997. He holds an MFA in printmaking from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and a B.A. in art and art history from Bemidji State University. His wife, Patricia L. Aakhus, is director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies. The award winners will be honored at the annual Arts Awards Banquet on Thursday, September 3, at the Centre in downtown Evansville. Wendy Knipe Bredhold News & Information Services 812/461-5259 or wkbredhold@usi.edu |
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