10th PRIZE AWARD CELEBRATED
WITH UNIQUE WINNING CATEGORY: PHOTOGRAPHY
The Hermitage Artist Retreat and its partner, the Greenfield Foundation, have marked the 10th Greenfield Prize presentation with a new category, recognizing the art of photography.
The 2017 Greenfield Prize will be presented to internationally acclaimed photojournalist David Burnett, at a celebration dinner on Saturday, April 22st at Michael’s On East Ballroom in Sarasota, Florida. The jury who selected Burnett consisted of Chair Dr. Tony Bannon, executive director of the Burchfield Penney Art Center and former director of the George Eastman Museum; Daile Kaplan, vice president and director of photography for Swann Auction Galleries; Robert Pledge, co-founder of Contact Press Images and international curator of photographic exhibitions; Greenfield Foundation Representative Joni Greenfield and Hermitage Artist Retreat Executive Director and moderator Bruce E. Rodgers.
“As always, an extraordinary jury of experts had a very difficult time selecting the recipient for the Greenfield Prize,” remarked Rodgers. “Four exceptional photographers were considered but in the end, David Burnett stood out and was a unanimous choice as our tenth Prize recipient. We look forward to introducing him to the community during the Greenfield Prize weekend in April.”
David Burnett has been an internationally acclaimed photojournalist for over five decades. He learned to photograph on his high school year book in Salt Lake City, and eventually worked for TIME Magazine in Washington, in Miami, and later for two years in Vietnam, as a freelance correspondent. He has worked on contract with LIFE, TIME and PEOPLE, and continues to work for a variety of magazines in the US and Europe. He is the recipient of the “Press Photo of the Year” award from World Press Photo Foundation (Holland), “Magazine Photographer of the Year” from the Pictures of the Year (USA), the Robert Capa Gold Medal from the Overseas Press Club of America (USA), the latter of which has also twice awarded him the Olivier Rebbot award for work done around the world. He’s photographed every American President since John F. Kennedy, and covered every Summer Olympic Games since 1984. He has taught a number of workshops, including the Gulf Photo Plus in Dubai, and Joop Swart Masterclass in Amsterdam, and has twice chaired the Jury of World Press Photo. He has authored three large-format photography books: Soul Rebel – An Intimate Portrait of Bob Marley, the world-renowned Reggae musician and songwriter; 44 Days: Iran and the Remaking of the World, a photo memoir of the Iranian Revolution and Man Without Gravity (in French) a collection of his Olympic sports photographs. He lives in the New York area, but considers himself a citizen of the world.
The Greenfield Prize at the Hermitage Artist Retreat is a groundbreaking partnership between the Philadelphia-based Greenfield Foundation and the Hermitage Artist Retreat. Pursuing the mission “to bring into the world works of art that will have a significant impact on the broader or artistic culture,” the prize seeks to identify individuals whose past work and future prospects position them to achieve this ambitious goal. As this year’s recipient, Burnett will receive a $30,000 commission for his proposed project to be created within a two-year time frame. Burnett’s photo exhibit will have its first showing at the Sarasota Museum of Art in the spring of 2019. He also receives a residency at the Hermitage Artist Retreat on Manasota Key in Englewood, FL, to ensure time and space in which to do the work.
The Greenfield Prize generally rotates each year among three artistic areas: drama, music, and visual arts. The specific category of photography was selected as an opportunity to recognize a different artistic discipline in honor of the tenth award anniversary.
“I’m extremely grateful to be recognized for the Greenfield Prize, particularly in the first year it is awarded in photography,” commented Burnett. “I am both moved by the fact that the jury felt my desire to photograph senior athletes was a worthy project, and excited that I will have the chance to really explore the world of aging and sport in the long term. Much of today’s culture centers around sports, yet so little is dedicated to those participating in these games in the ‘fourth quarter’ of life. It is my hope to speak to the energy and enthusiasm which Senior athletes bring to the game.”
For more information on the Greenfield Prize, visit the website www.GreenfieldPrize.org.
