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Monday, Aug. 16, 2010 | 1:38 p.m.
CARSON CITY – An artist from Washington state who painted the official portrait of former Gov. Kenny Guinn has been selected by Gov. Jim Gibbons for his portrait to hang in the hallway of the state capitol.
Gibbons said he chose Michele Rushworth of Sammamish, Wash., from the three finalists.
Rushworth has painted portraits of Govs. Gary Locke of Washington and James Geringer of Wyoming; Sen. Clifford Hansen of Wyoming and American ambassador to Ireland Michael J Sullivan.
She beat out finalists Ned Bittinger of Santa Fe., N.M., and John Ennis of Yardley, Pa. Forty-four artists applied and a panel of the state Arts Council named the finalists. The governor was free to select any of the 44.
The painting must be in oil colors and must be done in the same manner, style and size as the portraits of former governors.
Rushworth will be paid $17,500 for the painting and the frame, and $2.500 for travel expenses. The work must be completed by Dec. 17.
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Way to use this process to support Nevada artists, Governor.
We should pay the guy extra because he has to a hang out with the low life.
Okay. Time to have some fun.
1. Upon her selection, Ms. Rushworth was notified that due to severe budget cuts implemented by the governor, she would have to paint his portrait using only black paint and a white canvas.
2. After Ms. Rushworth signed her state payment contract, she was immediately notified that the first 8 hours she would need to paint the governor would be furloughed, she would recceive no compensation whatsoever, and she would not be allowed to even answer a phone call from the governor's office, let alone paint anything related to the state of Nevada.
3. The governor almost refused to participate in the tradition of having his portrait painted and hung because he thought that accepting federal funds to pay for the portrait would have strings attached that future governors would have to agree to.
4. Little known fact: the governor's smiling portrait will feature a tiny First Lady in the upper right-hand corner flying away on a broomstick, wearing a tall black hat ala Elizabeth Montgomery.
5. The governor's portrait will be the first in Nevada history that will double as a jigsaw puzzle and thus serve as his greatest educational contribution to the children of our state.
A disgusting waste of tax payer money.
It's tradition. All previous Governors of Nevada have their painting hanging in the state capital. To not do it would be wrong, regardless of how people feel about Gov. Gibbons.
Maybe if an artist from Nevada was any good they might have been selected.
worst governor ever,a polaroid would b too good for this one
I was pulling for Gary Larson.
"The Far Side" guy could have really done Gym justice.
Really icy1007? There isn't a "good" artist in Nevada? So, tell me the names of some "good" artists. Do you even know one artist or the work of one artist in this State?
I was born in Las Vegas. I grew up in Las Vegas. I gained my identity in Las Vegas mostly by befriending the creators and patrons of the arts who live and work in Las Vegas.
There are many, MANY, talented artists in Las Vegas who could paint this portrait. It should go without saying that there are, therefore, many more talented artists in the state at large who could paint this portrait. They could bring about not only a likeness of the Governor, but pride for the state which he represented, devoid of politics or partisanship.
Please retract this decision and let one of the talented, capable, and caring artists who reside in my home state reap the benefits of this honor. Let them honor him through their love of Nevada; let them create something that means something, not just to the public, but to the artist as well; let those (not unconsiderable) funds be recirculated through the economy that bestowed them this project and needs those monies so badly right now.
Shame on whoever made this "contest" even be open to those who don't claim Nevada as their home.
To do anything less is just abhorrent.