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Ned Dibner '12, who graduated in May after studying art in the Department of Art and Art History, has been chosen for an Award of Excellence and had four pieces accepted to the "Sustaining/Creating" exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution’s S. Dillon Ripley Center in Washington, D.C. 

Presented by VSA, an international organization on arts and disability and an affiliate of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the national juried exhibition of emerging artists "asks emerging artists to showcase work that illuminates innovative viewpoints on sustainability and contemporary creativity. Beyond its scientific definition, sustainability references notions of responsibility and stewardship of our natural world in all facets of human interaction–from the environmental to the cultural. Sustainability indicates the capacity to endure."

This exhibition is co-presented by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. In their 11th year of collaboration, VSA and Volkswagen teamed up to recognize emerging artists with disabilities who demonstrate promise in the visual arts, according to a joint news announcement.

Fifteen artists were selected for the exhibition and will share $60,000 in cash awards: a $20,000 grand prize, a $10,000 first award, a $6,000 second award, and 12 awards of excellence of $2,000 each. This year’s artists, ages 16-25, were asked to address the theme “Sustaining/Creating” by creating work that illuminates innovative viewpoints on sustainability and contemporary creativity.

“We are delighted to acknowledge and support this diverse group of talented young artists,” said Betty Siegel, director of VSA and Accessibility at the Kennedy Center. “These types of programs are an important tool for encouraging the next generation to pursue careers in the arts.”

The exhibition will take place at the Smithsonian Institution’s S. Dillon Ripley Center in Washington, D.C., from September 2012 to January 2013 and may travel nationally to additional venues. Awardees will be honored at an opening reception on Capitol Hill.

In addition to a cash award, Volkswagen is also sponsoring Dibner's travel and hotel to attend the exhibit reception on September 13, 2012.

The exhibit will be on display at the Ripley Center at 1100 Jefferson Drive SW in Washington, D.C. It will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and is free to the public with no tickets required.

Dibner is a native of North Carolina.