Esprit de Corps is the Burchfield-Penney Art Center's annual event which honors individuals and organizations for their commitment, outstanding leadership, and support. This year's ceremony will take place on Thursday, June 24. The 2004 recipients are: Wes Olmsted, Jim Brandys, Skip and Joy Herrick, The Rupp Family Foundation, George Grasser and Jad Cordes and Wegmans. Recipients will be honored at a reception on June 24 at the Burchfield-Penney.

"For the thousands of people who visit the Burchfield-Penney Art Center each year, the museum is a place to experience exciting programs and exhibitions that keep Buffalo Niagara a vital and stimulating place to live," said Ted Pietrzak, director of the Burchfield-Penney Art Center. "We are proud to be considered a forum for imagination, artistic appreciation and community involvement. These offerings would not be possible without the exceptional support of the Western New York community. Countless artists, donors and volunteers come forward each year with dedication, passion and vision to help make the Burchfield-Penney an ongoing success."

Artist

Wes Olmsted: Wes Olmsted, and his wife Gloria, care passionately about art as an integral part of life, whether it is a means of personal expression—as it is for Wes—or as communicative tool, centuries old, for conveying aesthetic and metaphysical notions. He may appear as an imposing force with an unflinching, uncensored stream of ideas and opinions, but at the center of it all, he is a kind, benevolent artist. So many on the staff found him fun to work with, and he made the experience of visitors to Art as Revelation inclusive and extraordinary.

Individuals: Sherlock and Joy Herrick

Friends of the Burchfield-Penney for decades, Skip and Joy Herrick are true believers in the museum’s mission and have provided wise counsel regarding a number of key areas of our work. The Herricks have been magnanimous supporting artists, providing funds to make exhibitions and catalogs possible, and entrusting their treasured Burchfield painting, November Storm, to the museum where it can be enjoyed by the public at large.

Council or Board of Trustees Member: James Brandys

With grace and humor, confidence and generosity, Jim Brandys has led the Burchfield-Penney Art Center as the chairman of the Board of Trustees for the past two years. Jim’s commitment and dedication to the museum have been unwavering and brought the Burchfield-Penney to a new level of achievement. The museum is extremely fortunate to have both Jim and Joy Brandys as leaders, partners and friends.

Business or Corporation: Wegmans

Wegmans has a national reputation for excellence and a corporate mission which is committed to supporting the neighborhoods in which the organization operates. We are proud to have had Wegmans as a generous sponsor of Art On Wheels, extending the reach of the Burchfield-Penney into the community. Special thanks to Ann McCarthy, consumer affairs manager, for going above and beyond in support of the Burchfield-Penney and Art On Wheels.

Foundation: The Rupp Family Foundation

The Rupp Family Foundation has had a long commitment to art and to the Burchfield-Penney Art Center. The foundation also supported Art On Wheels, as sponsor of Tire-annosaurus Rex at the Buffalo Museum of Science, as well as the museum's capital campaign for the new museum. We are indebted to the foundation for their continued belief in the museum as a vital community asset.

Special Recognition: Jad Cordes and George Grasser

In spring 2003, the Burchfield-Penney presented the exhibition, Smart Growth and Choices for Change. It was the financial support and personal commitment of Jad Cordes and George Grasser which transformed the exhibition into a dialogue which included civic leaders, urban planners and the community-at-large. Their use of this project as an opportdeepen the understanding of the issues associated with community development will have a lasting impact on this city and region.

About the Burchfield-Penney Art Center

The Burchfield-Penney Art Center is a museum dedicated to the art and vision of Charles E. Burchfield and distinguished artists of Buffalo Niagara and Western New York State. Through its affiliation with Buffalo State College, the museum encourages learning and celebrates our richly creative and diverse community. For more information, call (716) 878-6011 or visit www.burchfield-penney.org.

The Burchfield-Penney Art Center is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is supported in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts and Erie County. Additional operating support is provided by the Elizabeth Elser Doolittle Trust, the James Carey Evans Endowment, the Mary A. H. Rumsey Foundation and the Burchfield-Penney's members.