Edward Kozak chosen art competition winner (12/27/81)

Edward Kozak chosen art competition winner

HAMTRAMCK, Mich. - Edward Kozak's acrylic painting "Folk Dance" was one of six winning entries in the Ethno-Art '81 statewide art competition in Michigan.

The winners were announced at the opening reception of the special month-long exhibit of the finalists' works on December 3. City officials, civic leaders, bank officials and other dignitaries gathered at the Hamtramck Public Library's gallery to honor the art competition's participants.

Ethno-Art '81 was open to all Michigan artists over age 18. More than 200 entries from artists around the state were based on the competition's theme: the cultural diversity that gives Detroit, and especially Hamtramck, unique character and resiliency as a community.

Fifteen of the entries were designated official finalists by the jurors, Albert Landry, a private art dealer and consultant formerly with the internationally based Marlborough Galleries and The J.L. Hudson Gallery in Detroit, and Lawrence A. Henze, an art collector and director of the Bank of Commerce. The works of six finalists were selected by the bank for permanent display in its main lobby. Each of the six artists will be awarded a cash prize of up to $1,000.

The six winners are: Barry Avedon, "Italian Mama" (oil); Lowell Boileau, "Poletown from Mt. Elliot" (three-color acrylic on canvas); Jerry Grieser, "The Permanent Place" (acrylic); James Karsina, "Chopin in 1849" (acrylic); Mr. Kozak, "Folk Dance" (acrylic); and Suzanne M. Young, "Helping Hand" (porcelain clay).

The works of all 15 finalists will remain on display in the library gallery until December 30, and will be open to the general public during regular library hours.

The outstanding quality of this special exhibit is reflected in the fact that the Krasl Art Center in St. Joseph, Mich., has asked the Bank of Commerce to loan part of Ethno-Art '81 for a statewide traveling exhibit of distinguished corporate art collections.

Established in 1924, the Bank of Commerce now has nine offices in Wayne, Macomb and Oakland counties. As of October 31, 1981, reported assets were more than $283 million. The Bank of Commerce ranks 24th in size among the more than 270 banks in Michigan.

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