Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Victor Thomas Jacoby Awards

This is a press release from the Humboldt Area Foundation:

Tapestry work by Victor Thomas Jacoby.

(Bayside, Calif.) Victor Thomas Jacoby died in 1997 at the age of 52, but left behind a legacy of good will and good work that continues to help and inspire North Coast artists in the form of the Victor Thomas Jacoby Award. The award is granted annually through the Humboldt Area Foundation to Humboldt County visual artists and craftspeople, and celebrated on the textile artist’s birthday, December 14. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the award and to celebrate the occasion the Morris Graves Museum of art is hosting an exhibition featuring work by grantees from the past two decades. The exhibition will kick off with an award ceremony for this year’s winners on Friday, December 14 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Morris Graves.

“I will always be inspired by the opportunity I was given through Victor’s award,” says Becky Evans, a 1997 grantee. “There is a great value in exploring the alternatives—learning what works and what things aren’t appropriate. This is essential in the creative process and is necessary if one is to grow as an artist. I am grateful that Victor recognized this.”

Established by Victor before his death, this fund is dedicated to supporting Humboldt County visual artists and craftspeople. It also encourages the exploration of new ideas, materials, techniques, mediums and images, as well as excellence. Victor was a gifted artist whose chosen medium was French tapestry. His work has been shown in galleries and is placed in collections across the country, in Mexico, Europe and Japan. A gentle wit with a charming smile and eye and ear for all the arts, Victor was also a dedicated master teacher and an outstanding singer, baker and naturalist. Victor’s Fund is also supported with a generous estate gift from Rosalind Novick.

Everyone is invited to celebrate with coffee and cake at the 20th Anniversary Victor Thomas Jacoby Awards Ceremony & Art Exhibition at the Morris Graves Museum of Art, 636 F Street in Eureka from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, December 14. The exhibition featuring past grantees will run from December 8, 2018 to January 27, 2019.

For more information, contact Hannah Eisloeffel, Humboldt Area Foundation Donor Engagement Coordinator at (707)267-9923 and [email protected]

About Humboldt Area Foundation:

Vera Vietor established the Humboldt Area Foundation in 1972. Since then, more than $80 million in grants and scholarships have been awarded in Humboldt, Del Norte, Curry and Trinity Counties. Humboldt Area Foundation promotes and encourages generosity, leadership and inclusion to strengthen our communities.

For more information on services provided by the Foundation please visit the Humboldt Area Foundation website at hafoundation.org or call (707) 442-2993.