Artist George Szekely Named Ky's Higher Educator of the Year
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 21, 2011) − George Szekely, professor of art education at the University of Kentucky Department of Art, was recently named Kentucky's Higher Educator of the Year at the annual meeting of the Kentucky Art Education Association (KyAEA) held Oct. 14-16, in Morehead, Ky. As winner of this honor, Szekely will represent the Commonwealth at the National Art Education Association convention, being held March 1-4, in New York City, and is a candidate for the National Art Educator of the Year award.
KyAEA's Higher Educator of the Year award recognizes Szekely's work as an arts advocate in Kentucky schools, communities and institutions. In the last year alone, Szekely was invited to present four keynote presentations at major museums and universities and he published a new book, "Art Teaching." Szekely celebrated the prize with family at the KyAEA meeting, including his granddaughter Emily.
Szekely is widely recognized as an expert on children’s art, play and creativity. He writes the regular column "Children's Art Diary" for Arts & Activities magazine and has published more than 100 articles in major journals and magazines in the U.S. and Canada. Szekely has also written 10 other books, including "Encouraging Creativity in Art Lessons," "From Play to Art" and "How Children Make Art: Lessons in Creativity from Home to School." Outside of his teaching and publishing Szekely also produces and creates educational film and continues his own art career as a painter.
Szekely was named the recipient of the 2007 National Art Education Association's Marion Quinn Dix award and the Commonwealth’s first Distinguished Fellow Prize presented by KyAEA in 2009.
The UK Department of Art, at the UK College of Fine Arts, is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the fields of art studio, art history and art education.
MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, (859) 257-8716 or whitney.hale@uky.edu