Judges Selected for Gloucester 400 Commemorative Medal Design Competition

September 25, 2019 / Art and Music, Good to Know, History/Maritime, In The News

Gloucester Celebration Corporation, the official organizers of Gloucester, Massachusetts’ 400th-anniversary celebration, announced the official panel of judges for Phase I of the Commemorative Medal Design Competition. The panel is tasked with selecting three finalists from over three dozen designs submitted in Phase I of the competition. Design entries were received from artists worldwide, including Italy, the U.K., and Canada, as well as U.S. artists from California, New York, Tennessee, North Carolina, Maine, and many from Gloucester’s own vibrant art community. 

“We are tremendously grateful for the response to our call for entries,” said Ruth Pino, tri-chairperson of the Gloucester 400 steering committee. “The depth of talent, variety of style, and richness of interpretation among the artists’ designs are remarkable. Our judges have their work cut out for them.”

The judging panel is led by Mr. Roger Armstrong, a longtime civic leader and champion of the Arts in Gloucester. Mr. Armstrong is also an owner of the State of the Art Gallery in Rocky Neck. Serving alongside Mr. Armstrong are the following distinguished members of Gloucester’s artistic community:

Ms. Joy Dai Buell – Dedicated artist and art educator, Ms. Buell maintains a studio in Gloucester and teaches at the deCordova Museum, where her insightful instruction has been sought-after for 15+ years. 

Ms. Janice Carragher Charles – A lifelong artist, art educator, and gallery owner, Ms. Charles and her family own and operate the gallery, Charles Fine Arts,  in downtown Gloucester.

Mr. Leon Doucette – Born and raised in Gloucester, Mr. Doucette is an international award-winning artist and has served as a respected member of the curatorial staff at the Cape Ann Museum since 2011.

Mr. Ken Hruby – Celebrated sculptor, educator, and military veteran, Mr. Hruby’s work is included in many collections, including the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum  and Gloucester’s own Cape Ann Museum.

“It is our great pleasure to be part of this project and contribute to this Gloucester tradition,” said Mr. Armstrong. “This is a wonderful opportunity for us to help bring this time-honored practice to life and contribute to our 400th in a way that will live on as a legacy among friends and neighbors for generations to come.”

Phase II of the Competition

The panel of judges for Phase I of the competition will review all the entries and select three finalist designs that will move to Phase II. The Phase I finalists will be announced on October 1, 2019. In Phase II, the final medal will be chosen by a second panel of judges from 3-dimensional renderings of each of the three semi-finalist designs. The final design will then be minted in bronze and silver versions for purchase by Gloucester residents, collectors, and numismatists worldwide. 

The first minting of the 400th anniversary medallions will be available in the Spring of 2020. Proceeds from their sale will provide the chief source of funding for Gloucester’s 2023 celebrations and will provide residents with a memento of the Quadricentennial, help the city capture the priceless stories of its 400-year history, and create new memories for storytellers to come.

Start Making History – Get Involved

Want to be part of Gloucester’s history? Please join the Gloucester 400 steering committee for its next public input session on November 16th in City Hall at 11 a.m. Over 10 committees with topics including Community Outreach, Culture and the Arts, and Waterways need your help and insight. For more information visit https://www.gloucesterma400.org/