For Release: January 3, 2018
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GREAT FALLS, MONTANA – The Montana Arts Council announced eight Montana artists as recipients of the 2017 Artist’s Innovation Award. Of the eight, University of Providence’s own Aaron Parrett was recognized.
In the Helena region, Parrett was recognized as the Literary Artist. Parrett is a professor of English at the University of Providence. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Montana in Missoula, and a master’s and doctorate in comparative literature from the University of Georgia in Athens. He has been writing both non-fiction and fiction since 2001. Parrett also is the founder of The Territorial Press, a fine arts literary press.
Parrett’s passion for writing “changed dramatically when I discovered letterpress and acquired a 1920s Chandler and Price platen printing press,” he says. “Once I resolved to make a book of my own writing using century-old methods, I determined that the composition itself would influence every aspect of the ultimate product, and that the challenge would be to learn how the physical process of choosing letters one at a time from the type case would influence the thought process behind what I write, both at the level of the sentence as well as the level of the subject matter itself,” he writes.
The Artist’s Innovation Award includes a $3,000 honorarium. Artists who receive this award must also convey their artistry to other Montanans during the course of the upcoming year.
Review panels comprised of experts in the fields of visual arts, performing arts, and literary arts met in early December to select the honorees. This honor rewards Montana artists who demonstrate innovation in their work as well as originality and dedication in their creative pursuits. The Montana Arts Council established this award program in order to foster environments where the innovation and creativity of artists are valued and celebrated.
The University of Providence is a private Catholic university located in Great Falls, Montana. Founded in 1932, the university includes both a School of Liberal Arts and Sciences and a School of Health Professions. For more information, go to uparchive.wpengine.com.
