Arts Medalists Have Campus Ties

A composer, costume designer and cultural arts advocate with ties to NC State are among the 2010 winners of the Raleigh Medal of Arts, the city’s highest arts honor presented for lifetime achievement.

J. Mark Scearce, director of the music department,  is an internationally recognized composer whose works have been performed throughout the U.S., and in Europe, Asia and the Pacific. He has had 80 performances of 25 different works in Raleigh, including the premiere of an opera, a ballet, a bass concerto, a string quartet and a collaboration with Toni Morrison that won the prestigious Sackler Prize in music composition.

William Ivey Long is a five-time Tony Award-winning Broadway costume designer who has remained connected to his roots in North Carolina with support of programs such as NC State’s “Art to Wear” in the colleges of textiles and design, where is he an adjunct professor. Long donated his design of the Carolina Ballet’s costumes for the Monet Impressions performance to complement the Monet exhibit at the North Carolina Museum of Art, where he also serves on the capital campaign committee.

Banks C. Talley Jr., vice chancellor of student affairs emeritus, has been instrumental in shaping the cultural life of Raleigh through myriad organizations. He expanded arts programs at NC State with his creation of the “Friends of the College Series,” and supported and directed Arts NC State. He is the namesake of the Talley Student Center. Talley served the North Carolina Symphony as executive director and foundation board member. He also served on boards of Preservation North Carolina and the North Carolina Museum of Art.

The city also honored Ruth Green, arts advocate and owner of the Little Art Gallery; Nancy Olson, literary arts promoter and owner of Quail Ridge Books and Music; and Dwane Powell,  nationally recognized editorial cartoonist.

The medals will be presented on Wednesday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. in Fletcher Opera Theater at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts. The event, which is free and open to the public, will feature special guests and performances that will be announced later.