Creative people crowded the 1912 center in Moscow to honor five locals who, Moscow Mayor Bill Lambert said, make Moscow unique in the arts. Mayor Lambert began The Moscow Mayor’s Arts Awards Program Thursday evening with a speech.

“One of the things I know about artists…,” Lambert said, “is rarely do they want the recognition.”

He said artists simply go out and make beautiful things happen.

Every two years since 1998 Moscow looks inward, and locals nominate fellow community members for the Moscow Mayor’s Arts Awards. Nominators write letters explaining how their nominee contributes to the arts, and from those letters the mayor chooses award winners.

Dulce L. Kersting, executive director of the Latah Historical Society, nominated Kristin Carlson Becker, WSU clinical assistant English professor, who received the award for Outstanding Achievement in Arts Education.

Kersting said Becker, “created a fun and meaningful way for kids to talk about the history of the town.”

Becker created a series of prints in collaboration with students at the Palouse Prairie School that feature local historical buildings.

Kersting said she was “struck by the beauty of her work and the uniqueness of her partnership.”

Becker said she strives to create prints that incorporate the history of a building as well as its current state. Architecture is often the subject of her work, and in graduate school her photography also featured deteriorating buildings, she said.

Roger Wallins, retired professor from UI, nominated Myron Schreck for the Arts Advocacy and accepted the award on his behalf.

Wallins said Schreck founded a charity to benefit Moscow organizations like Moscow Community Theater, Festival Dance, the 1912 Center, and the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre. He said Schreck made it possible for the Moscow community to have active arts programs.

Although Schreck could not accept the award in person, Wallins read a speech Schreck wrote for the evening in which he said he was deeply humbled to receive the award.

Mary Dupree, a retired University of Idaho professor of music history and musicology, nominated Bill Voxman, who received the Individual Excellence in the Arts award.

“Bill is a Poly-math,” Dupree said, because while he was a mathematics professor for many years at the University of Idaho, he has many other talents. Dupree said Bill is also a clarinetist and, “a passionate advocate of chamber music.”

Voxman said much of his playing abilities are thanks to the University of Idaho chamber orchestra. He said he currently plays clarinet in the band, Gefiltetrout, which will release its first CD Nov. 14.

Dupree said Voxman is also a photographer who takes, “beautiful photographs of people caught at spontaneous moments.”

He has also been very generous to a number of organizations here, Dupree said.

Voxman said it is because of creative people and organizations like Festival Dance that, “I think Moscow is an exemplary community.”

Dupree and Joann Muneta, educational outreach coordinator for Festival Dance, both agreed the award was long overdue.

Roger Rowley, director of the Prichard Art Gallery, nominated Bill Bowler, a retired UI architecture professor and recipient of the Lifetime Achievement in the Arts award.

To start his introductory speech Rowley said, “Bill Bowler is a pain in the ass.”

He said Bowler forced his students to “be clear about what they’re doing, why they’re doing it, and even if it’s the right thing to do.” 

“I can truly say Bill (Bowler) is the one artist, architect and teacher who could rightfully be awarded a lifetime achievement award,” Rowley said.

He said no other professor demanded more or brought such good work out of their students.

Rowley said, “He’s the best possible pain and mentor one could wish for.”

Sue Ostrom, pastor at Moscow First United Methodist Church, nominated Tom Crossler, Bell Choir director, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Ostrom said she received an email about nominations the day before they were due.

“In 24 hours we came up with 16 letters of support,” she said.

Crossler was involved in music throughout his high school and college careers and currently directs multiple bell choirs at the church. Ostrom said because of Crossler people who could not afford lessons still experienced music in their lives.

Robin Ohlgren, Moscow arts commission chair, concluded the evening by saying there are many worthy artists in Moscow to consider for the 2016 Mayor’s Arts Awards.