Local artists to be awarded at First Friday’s Art Walk

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- The 2017 recipients of the Ronna Bucci and Charles Dietz Artist Awards were presented at the First Friday’s Art Walk.

Through the Muskingum County Community Foundation, the awards are available to local artists who are not enrolled in high school or college and are members of the art community, but may be in need of a little support.

“What can we do for the artist now, that’s where the idea for this came about as well as a way to recognize those artists that have been working in our community and been here for many years contributing to the artistic strength of Muskingum County,” said Brian Wagner, CEO of the Muskingum County Community Foundation.

First place was awarded to Raymond Ramos. Second place went to Bethany Mercer, who received the award for the second consecutive year.

Ron and Mary Ann Bucci also decided to personally give a separate award to Jozie Brown, a student at Columbus College of Art and Design.

All three awards were presented in an effort to keep the memory of Ronna Bucci and Dr. Charles Dietz alive.

“Our daughter passed away in 1998 and she was an artist, a writer and there was such an outpouring of monetary gifts and love from the community that we established this award in her name and decided that we would add Dr. Dietz name to it because he was a well known curator for years and years at the Zanesville Museum of Art,” said Mary Ann Bucci.

The three recipients were presented their respective awards at a ceremony Friday at the Zanesville Appalachian Arts Project Gallery.