Tess Elliot wins Grand Prize and Gallerists’ Pick Award for installation at People’s Bicycle
The 10th annual public art exhibition Windows on Main Street, or WOMSX, as it was called this year, wrapped up on Saturday night, Sept. 13, at Quinn’s (330 Main St., Beacon), with a festive closing party and awards ceremony. Twelve local artists of the 37 who participated in the exhibition were honored with WOMSXcellence Awards for their exceptional art installations in retail storefronts on Beacon’s Main Street.
The big winner was Tess Elliot, who suspended an “exploded” vintage three-speed bike in the window at People’s Bicycle (430 Main St.). In her artist’s statement, Elliot writes: “People’s Bicycle sells new and vintage bikes while also providing repair and maintenance work for local cyclists. As advocates for an environmentally friendly and healthy means of transportation, their mission inspired the concept behind this piece.”
This work won Elliot not only the WOMSX Grand Prize of $1,000, juried by the organizers and founders of Windows on Main Street — local artists Christopher Albert, Karlos Carcamo, Hannah Anderson, Larry Guzman, Teresa Marra, Melissa Tatge, and Melissa Toth — but also the “Gallerists’ Pick” award, juried by Beacon art icons Carla Goldberg of Beacon Artist Union (bau Gallery), Barbara and Steven Riddle of Marion Royael Gallery, Carl Van Brunt of Woodstock Artist Association Museum, and Susan Sayre Batton, Managing Director of Dia:Beacon. Goldberg and bau have generously awarded Elliot with a solo show in their Beacon Room scheduled for August 2015. Elliot’s piece will be on display in the People’s Bicycle window, 430 Main St., through the winter.
This year, online public voting enabled organizers to present a “People’s Choice” award, which was won by Ezequiel Martin Consoli for his installation in the window of Beacon Homebrew (469 Main St.). Consoli was awarded with a Beacon Basket, filled with goodies donated by local businesses.
Other artists who were honored for their exceptional work include: Kevin Abney at Galaxie 13; Kimberly Coccagnia at Shekinah Styles Barber Shop; Kit Burke-Smith at Barb’s Butchery; Marcy B. Freedman at HV Fitness; Beth Haber & Stephen Lewis at RiverWinds Gallery; Sam Horowitz at Hudson Land Design; Sara Murali at Nellas Bellas Boutique; Antonella Piemontese at Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency and Benjamin Taylor at Ella’s Bellas.
The exhibition archive can be viewed at beaconwindows.org.
The event was organized by Melissa Tatge, Hannah Anderson, Larry Guzman, Teresa Marra, and Melissa Toth. WOMSX is presented by Rhinebeck Bank and sponsored by The Roundhouse at Beacon Falls, Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency, Artisan Wine Shop, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Hudson Valley Properties, Galaxie 13, Hudson River Craft Beer Festival, Kimberly Coccagnia, Oak Vino, River Therapeutic Massage, Alicia King Photography, Beacon Flea Market, RiverWinds Gallery, Spire Studio, Bank Square Coffeehouse, bau, Quinn’s, The Valley Table, Diane Landro Photography, Kelly Ellenwood & Timothy Parsaca, Marcy B. Freedman, Rabbi Brent & Alison Spodeck, and Still River Editions.
Photo courtesy of the artist
