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Arts Community of Easton honors local artists and Lafayette for contributions to the community
The Arts Community of Easton will be honoring local artists and Lafayette at its annual art awards dinner. ACE’s annual awards recognize contributions that bring an awareness of the value of art as a means for positive growth and change to the Easton community.
This year’s recipients are Easton artist Karl Stirner as Artist of the Year, Lafayette as Patron of the Year, and Phillipsburg High School graduate Jessica Sturchio will be the first recipient of ACE’s Visual Arts Scholarship.
Stirner has played a major role in building Easton’s artist community over the past few decades by attracting numerous artists to the area. Born in Germany 84 years ago, Stirner came to the United States at the age 4 and was a professional drafter. After serving in World War II, he started a machine shop business and later a wrought iron business, fabricating railings and incorporating creative design in producing modern furniture and sculpture.
He taught at the Tyler School of Art at Temple University, Moore College of Art and Swarthmore College. He also exhibited his work at major galleries, including New York’s Museum of Modern Art. In 1982, Stirner bought a renovated a factory building on Ferry Street now known as “The Easton Arts Building.” It houses gallery and studio space for him and other artists.
Sturchio graduated from Phillipsburg High School this past spring and is currently enrolled at Salisbury University in Maryland, where she is majoring in graphic design.
Tickets for the awards dinner, to be held Dec. 7 at the Bank Street Annex on Northampton Street, are $25 and can be purchased at Connexions Gallery, located at 213 Northampton Street. Proceeds benefit the ACE Scholarship Fund.