2 artists receive Butler museum award

Staff report

Youngstown

George Bolge, director of the Boca Raton (Fla.) Museum of Art and a former Ohio resident, and painter Gregory Strachov are the 2011 recipients of the Butler Institute of American Art’s Medal for Life Achievement in the Arts.

Created a quarter century ago, the Butler Medal has been awarded to some of the nation’s foremost art world personalities and talents. Past recipients are artists Robert Rauschenberg (1925-2008), Clarence Carter (1904-2000) and Louise Nevelson (1899-1988); gallery dealers Leo Castelli (1907-1999) and Ivan Karp; museum directors Thomas Hoving (1931-2009) and Louis Zona; former New York Times art critic and current dean of the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan David L. Shirey; and artist/astronaut Alan Bean.

Bolge, a decorated Vietnam veteran, began his museum career in South Florida in 1970, and was instrumental in the creation of the new Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale. He served as its chief executive until 1988, and remains director emeritus for this organization.

Under Bolge’s direction, the new museum — which opened in 2001 — has become one of the most successful nonprofit cultural and educational institutions in Florida.

Strachov has been a full time working artist for more than 30 years. He was born of Russian heritage in Venezuela in 1950 and immigrated to the United States in 1955 with his family.

Strachov’s work has been exhibited throughout the United States and his work has earned 63 awards. His paintings hang in private collections all over the world.