2023 marks the return of the Farmington Area Art Awards after a hiatus over the last few years and the Farmington Area Arts Commission and the Farmington Hills Cultural Arts Division have announced the recipients of the 2023 Artist in Residence Award and the Nancy Coumoundouros Distinguished Service to the Arts Award.
The recipients will be honored at a special ceremony on Thursday, October 5 at The Hawk in Farmington Hills. The reception starts at 6:30 p.m. with the ceremony following at 7 p.m. Since 1976, the Artist in Residence Award has been awarded to a resident of Farmington or Farmington Hills who displays exceptional talent and artistic accomplishments. The Nancy Coumoundouros Distinguished Service to the Arts Award recognizes outstanding service to the community in the creative arts by a group or individual.
The 2023 Artist in Residence will be awarded to Farmington Hills resident Mark Boyd. “I am thrilled to have been chosen for this honor. I’m looking forward to discovering ways to grow within this opportunity,” said Boyd. Boyd was born and raised in Oklahoma, then traveled across the U.S. for many years, as a stand-up comedian. He later settled in Michigan and began doing local theater. From there he expanded into television and radio commercials (both on camera and as voice talent), audio books, industrial videos, and dozens of Michigan-based movies, both short and feature length. His first major theatrical release was as “Ronny” in “Whip It” directed by Drew Barrymore. Boyd is known for his role as “Wilson” in the pilot episode of “12 Monkeys” on the Syfy Network, and played the role of Alexander Graham Bell in a recent episode of MacGyver.
The 2023 Nancy Coumoundouros Distinguished Service to the Arts Award will be awarded to Ted Hadfield, a working studio artist and the President and CEO of Artpack Services Inc. located in Farmington Hills, which he co-founded in 1981.
An MFA Graduate of Cranbrook Academy of Art, Hadfield is a studio artist with art in the collections of AT&T, Cranbrook Museum of Art, University of Michigan, Beaumont Hospital, Dow Automotive, CS Mott Foundation and Frankle Foundation for the Arts. He has received two Creative Artists Grants from the Michigan Council for the Arts, and a Colorado Creative Artists Symposium Grant. He has exhibited at the Detroit Institute of Art, Cranbrook Art Museum and the Flint Institute of Art.
Hadfield states, “Being an artist isn’t just about making art, it’s also about seeing the opportunity to give back to those who have inspired you, the individual and the environment.”
For over 20 years, Mr. Hadfield has volunteered as a co chair for Michigan Aids Coalition, ArtWorks Detroit and Matrix Human Services by donating art and encouraging others to do the same. As an Arts Commissioner for the City of Farmington Hills, he has juried and presented awards to High School student artists, explaining in detail the value of their art endeavors, and suggesting important artists to view for inspiration. As a volunteer Curator of Exhibitions at KickstART Gallery, he has provided engaging exhibitions by established artists, creating additional recognition, attendance and revenue for the non-profit gallery. As a Farmington-Farmington Hills Arts Commissioner, he has secured cost-free materials and fabrication and provided a “design vision” for creating the 12 ton 23’ high, Hawk SCRAPTURE TREE located at The Hawk Community Center entrance. “In 2005, I decide that I would only make art in edition of two. One for exhibition and the other to donate to fundraise for a worthy cause.”
The October 5 Art Awards event is free and open to all ages. The Hawk is located at: 29995 W. 12 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. For more information, call 248-473-1850.