As appearing in SOURCE

Three CSU students in the Department of Art and Art History have been named finalists for NICHE awards.

Sponsored by NICHE magazine, the NICHE Awards program began in 1989 to celebrate excellence and innovation in American and Canadian fine craft.

The CSU finalists are Nicolette Tiongson for her piece “Reine d’Argent” (teapots), John Sullivan for “Motherboard” (sculptural metal) and Hayley Josephs for “April” (fine jewelry). All three worked with CSU Associate Professor Haley Bates, who coordinates and teaches in the department’s metalsmithing and jewelry area.

In the NICHE Awards, artists are recognized in both professional and student divisions. Nearly 2,000 entries are received annually from professional and student craft artists from across the U.S. and Canada. Each year, the editors of NICHE magazine select a prestigious panel of judges, including gallery owners, guild and museum directors, curators, craft industry experts and arts advocates.

After the judging process is complete, and counts are tallied, the top-scoring pieces — five in each category — become NICHE finalists. Out of these five, the highest-scoring piece in each category wins the NICHE award.

Winners announced in January

In the NICHE Awards, artists are recognized in both professional and student divisions. Nearly 2,000 entries are received annually from professional and student craft artists from across the U.S. and Canada. Each year, the editors of NICHE magazine select a prestigious panel of judges, including gallery owners, guild and museum directors, curators, craft industry experts and arts advocates.

After the judging process is complete, and counts are tallied, the top-scoring pieces — five in each category — become NICHE finalists. Out of these five, the highest-scoring piece in each category wins the NICHE award.