A very special group of prints donated to support the Thomas D. Little Prize will be auctioned by Leslie Hindman Auctioneers (Chicago) on Sunday, 12 September, 2010, as part of a larger group of fine art prints on offer that day. Click here for a PDF describing the prints to be auctioned to benefit the prize.
Works on auction include Chuck Close's Janet (lot no. 134), Helen Frankenthaler's Grey Fireworks (lot no. 94 and above), James Siena's Battery Variations (lot no.131 and below), Leroy Nieman's International Auction, (lot no. 95), Dorothea Rockburne's Shadowed Perimeter (lot no.96), Alex Katz's Plaid Shirt II (lot no.113), David Diao's Untitled of 1988 (lot no. 135), MIchael Loderstedt's Last Bear in Poland Gets a Present (lot no.133), and Bill Jensen's Etching for Denial (lot no, 132) which have been contributed to endow further the fund that supports the prize (see description below) honoring their artistic collaborator , friend, and master printer, Tom Little.
A local bidding party for KSU friends and alumni will be held on campus beginning at noon on 12 September, in 203 Taylor Hall; light refreshments will be served and information on and assistance with bidding will be available. If you'd like to attend, please contact Pam Hutson in the College of the Arts for further details. Everyone interested in bidding, be that on-site in Chicago, at the bidding party, or on your own, should first register in advance with Leslie Hindman; bids will be taken by phone for those not at the auction in Chicago.
Tom Little (1955-2006) studied painting and printmaking in Kent State's School of Art in the late 1970's and went on to become the master printer for Brand X Editions, the New York print shop to which many prominent artists turned when seeking top talent to make multiples of their work. Tom had a keen eye for color relationships and a sure grasp of the processes needed to produce vivid, visually arresting prints. These talents were recognized by some of the most significant artists of our time, such as Chuck Close (whose work may be seen behind Tom, above), Jenny Holzer, Dorothea Rockburne, Helen Frankenthaler, LeRoy Neiman, Glen Ligon, Nicholas Howey, Robert Indiana, Wolf Kahn, Robert Longo, Vija Celmins and Terry Winters, many of whom had Brand X and Tom Little create prints for them.
For many years, Tom welcomed KSU students on travel-study trips to New York City and was a vibrant, inspiring, and generous teacher. He returned to Kent State to give demonstrations and instruction and to serve as mentor to emerging printmakers from the KSU studios. His premature death in July, 2006, was felt as a deep loss by his many friends and colleagues, who have come together, along with members of Tom's family, to establish thie Thomas D. Little Prize in his memory to honor and continue his dedication to printmaking students in the School of Art at Kent State University.
The Thomas D. Little Prize is an annual awardmade to an undergraduate student excelling in printmaking, to be used for further study, supplies, travel, or other purposes to further individual education. The award is made on the basis of portfolio review by a panel of School faculty and visiting printmakers. In 2010, the prize was expanded to include an award to a graduate printmaking student.
Individuals may contribute to the prize by directing your gifts -- made out to the "Thomas D. Little Prize" -- to the Director, School of Art, Kent State University, PO Box 5190, Kent, OH 44242. Click here for a downloadable PDF form to enclose. Donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.
Thanks to everyone who made the initial Gala Benefit, held on Saturday, 26 April, 2008, a resounding success. Proceeds of donations and the silent and live auctions all went to the Thomas D. Little Prize. The evening included jazz by the Bob Niederriter Quartet, a sneak preview of video recollections of Tom's life by friends and family (plus a chance for attendees to be included in the video), and the live auction with celebrity auctioneer Al Moss of Hillbilly Idol. Food was provided by local chefs and the cash bar presided over by celebrity bartender Liz Maugans, Director of Zygote Press. Click here for a list of sponsors, artists and collectors who contributed work for auction and all who worked so hard to make the event so much fun! A second auction of additional works on paper donated in Tom's memory is scheduled for 12 September, 2010, as described above. We wish to thank everyone who has so generously made work and donated to support this prize, especially the family and friends of Tom Little.
For further information, contact: Christine Havice, Director, The School of Art or Professor of Printmaking Michael Loderstedt.