Golden Paintbrush Winners Announced

Three local artists – Jim Cogswell, David Zinn and Margaret Parker – will receive the city of Ann Arbor’s Golden Paintbrush awards, to be presented at the city council’s June 18, 2012 meeting. The announcement came in a press release from the city, although plans for the awards were discussed most recently at the Ann Arbor public art commission’s May 23, 2012 meeting. AAPAC is responsible for selecting the winners.

Jim Cogswell was chosen for the “Enchanted Beanstalk” at the new University of Michigan C. S. Mott Children’s Hospital. The large-scale piece covers 660 windows on eight floors of the hospital, featuring imagery cut from vinyl. Cogswell is an Arthur F. Thurnau professor at UM’s School of Art & Design. [image of "Enchanted Beanstalk"]

David Zinn makes chalk drawings on sidewalks and other surfaces throughout Ann Arbor, with distinct characters like Sluggo, a green creature with antenna eyeballs. His website describes his approach this way: “In essence, the bulk of my daily life consists of scheming happily in my studio until nice weather drives me to cover nearby sidewalks with joyfully pointless chalk art.” [image of Zinn's chalk art]

Margaret Parker is being recognized for “her instrumental role in advancing public art in the city and service with the Ann Arbor Public Art Commission,” according to the city’s press release. She was an advocate for the creation of Ann Arbor’s Percent for Art program, and served as the art commission’s first chair for several years.