George Szekely Named KyAEA Distinguished Fellow

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 23, 2009) − At a recent gathering of more than 250 art teachers from across the state, the Kentucky Art Education Association (KyAEA) surprised George Szekely, professor of art education at the University of Kentucky Department of Art, with the Commonwealth’s first Distinguished Fellow Prize. The new award recognizes Szekely's lifetime achievement in the field of art education.

In presenting the award, current president of the KyAEA, Judi Haynes, praised Szekely's many achievements stating, "George Szekely has been a leading voice for art education in Kentucky for over a decade and one of the most respected art educators in the nation. He held top positions in our state and at the National Art Education Association and won practically every major honor and award in the field. He has been honored as a national treasure by the NAEA, and we feel he is one of our great Kentucky treasures."  

As a recipient of the inaugural award, Szekely received a trophy-bowl with gold brushes hand-crafted by a seventh grade art student from northern Kentucky.

A professional artist and art educator, Szekely writes the regular column "Children's Art Diary" for Arts and Activities Magazine and has published more than 100 articles in major journals and magazines in the U.S. and Canada. He has also written 10 books, including "Encouraging Creativity in Art Lessons," "From Play to Art" and "How Children Make Art: Lessons in Creativity from Home to School."  In 2007, Szekely was chosen as the recipient of the National Art Education Association's Marion Quinn Dix award. 

Szekely is a popular keynote speaker, most recently delivering three speeches across the U.S. From the top of a children’s stool, to gain more altitude in "Mile High" Colorado, Szekely spoke to that state's art educators at the Beaver Run Conference Center in Breckenridge. In Chicago, Szekely spoke about play, art and artistic independence to a gathering of private school teachers. Upon returning to Kentucky, Szekely presented his vast collection of children’s summer artworks to the annual meeting of the KyAEA.

In the spring, Szekely travels to Ohio to be a keynote presenter at an international gathering of early childhood art educators at the Toledo Museum of Art and to open the new education wing of the Columbus Museum of Art.