Friends and fellows in arts council grants

Krista Benjamin was next to her friend and fellow author Teresa Breeden when it was announced that Benjamin was a 2007 Nevada Arts Council Artist Fellowship recipient.

Moments later, Breeden herself became a fellow.

"It was great winning, but it was 10 times better winning with a friend," Benjamin, 36, said.

The authors, both of Carson City, took two of the three fellowships in Literary Arts. A total of nine fellowships are awarded annually with three in each of three categories: Literary Arts, Visual Arts and Performing Arts.

"We want to promote an environment where the artist's work can be recognized," said Susan Boskoff, Nevada Arts Council executive director. "This is a way to provide that support and allow them to do whatever they need to advance their careers."

The nine fellows each receive a $5,000 cash prize. In addition to using the grant award to produce art during the fellowship year, each fellow provides a free public event relevant to the discipline.

This year's 124 applicants were whittled down to 18 artists, nine fellowships and nine honorable mentions.

Breeden, 32, who has applied four times and won for her poetry, said one of her main reasons for entering is the feedback provided by the judges, allowing her to make her work better.

"They said they thought my work was strong and they liked the imagery and metaphor," Breeden said.

Her portfolio is a far cry from her first attempts at poetry.

"I remember some of my early poems. They were cute, rhymie poems that I wrote in early high school," Breeden said. "It was more 'I have feelings I want to write down.' I didn't take it seriously until college."

Breeden said she has always been drawn to write poetry.

"Poetry has the capacity to capture experiences and celebrate them. To share those small moments," Breeden said. "Poetry can focus on a complete moment."

Benjamin received the fellowship by submitting the beginning of a novel she is writing. The book's working title is "One Question."

"When I submitted it, I knew it was a crap shoot. I knew I had as much of a chance as anybody but I was less attached to it this year that in previous years," Benjamin said.

Benjamin was awarded the fellowship just one year after her portfolio had one of the lowest scores in the competition.

"I was really looking forward to it last year and I didn't make it out of round one," Benjamin said.

In addition to receiving the fellowship, Benjamin has also had a poem selected for inclusion in the Best American Poetry 2006 compilation due out later this year.

Aside from being friends, both women are also members of the Ash Canyon Poets, a workshop group that provides a place to share and improve written works.

"I don't know if Carson City knows how strong a literary community there is and how much support writers have," Breeden said.

• Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.

Recipients

2007 Nevada Artists Association Fellowships:

Literary Arts

Krista Benjamin, writing for children & young adults, Carson City.

Tara Bray, poetry, Reno.

Teresa Breeden, poetry, Carson City.

Performing Arts

Jorge Grossman, music composition, Henderson.

Seth Horan, music performance/bass guitar, Reno.

Richard Soule, music performance/flute, Las Vegas.

Visual Arts

Suzanne Hackett-Morgan, painting, Las Vegas.

Angela Kallus, painting, Las Vegas.

Robin Stark, sculpture, Henderson.