Niche Award 2009

The Niche Magazine Awards 2009 The Student Glass Category Winners: Glass: Functional "Ampolina/Mezza Stampo Goblets" by Tanner Clark @ Emporia State University photo by: John Lucas Glass: Sculptural "Aldali Tower" by Thoryn Ziemba @ Appalachian Center for Craft The Professional Blown & Lampworked Glass Categories, Winners: photo by: Peter Debe Glass: Blown "Herd Mentality" by Rick Eggert @ Stuart, Fla. photo by: Tami Meader Glass: Lampworked Coral Octopus Jennifer Umphress Kingston, Wash. "2009 NICHE Awards Winners List" Accessed April 16, 2009. http://www.americancraft.com/NICHE_Awards/introduction_page.html What is Niche Magazine? This is from their website: "Each year NICHE sponsors The NICHE Awards the highest recognition for both production and limited-edition craft works made in the United States and Canada. The NICHE Awards ceremony isheld each February at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, in conjunction with the Buyers Market of American Craft. In addition to NICHE magazine, the Rosen Group also publishes AmericanStyle magazine. NICHE magazine is the only magazine published exclusively for craft art galleries, main street stores and small retail businesses that daily fight for survival against big box retailers such as WalMart and Target. These progressive retailers are the pioneers of urban revitalization and growth for main streets in small towns throughout America. NICHE magazine offers retailers exclusive new resources for alternative, creative upscale merchandise that appeals to affluent retail customers. The NICHE philosophy is that it takes unique products to help retailers survive in today's competitive retail environment. NICHE magazine advertisers and on-line art search resources include art studios and producers of wholesale gifts and decorative accessories that are "Made in the USA"." http://www.nichemag.com/ME2/dirsect.asp?sid=208A9B3CABE24EDB8A680A46E81258C7&nm=About+Niche