Wendy Rosen with Mark Orr, who took the recycled category for “Enormous Egg.”

Finalists, friends and retailers celebrated the best in fine North American craft at the 2009 NICHE Awards, held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia Feb. 15 as part of the Buyers Market of American Craft. Venerable glass artist Stuart Abelman acted as the ceremony’s guest emcee, and NICHE publisher Wendy Rosen noted the craft community’s strong history and promising future.

“We’ve developed, nurtured and maintained partnerships and friendships with so many talented artists and retailers,” Rosen commented in her opening remarks. “These relationships are the strong foundation that make this community vibrant and unique.”

A five-member jury selected 149 finalists in 34 professional categories last November; 69 student finalists were recognized in 14 categories. In total, the competition saw a record-breaking number of submissions, almost 2,000.

The winner of the fourth annual Arts Educator of the Year award was revealed mid-ceremony. Curtiss Brock, professor and head of the glass program at the Appalachian Center for Craft at Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, was honored for his unwavering dedication to emerging craft artists.

The end of the ceremony was particularly moving as Jean Thompson, director of marketing and circulation for NICHE magazine, accepted the professional award for fashion accessories on behalf of the family of the late Su Job, who died in December. Job’s family had a message for craft artists, Thompson said.

“They want you to know how very important it is for every artist to remember that you never know when you reach the pinnacle of your career,” she shared. “Su was able to reach hers, and they believe very strongly that she’s in heaven smiling down on us.”

Abelman closed the ceremony on a poignant note. “I passed a store in the mall called F.Y.E. recently. It’s a video and game store. It’s ‘for your entertainment.’ I guess that makes us F.Y.S., ‘for your soul,’ ” he explained. “Most people lead two separate lives: who they are, and what they do to survive. But for us, we are what we do to survive. It’s one and the same. You should be proud of it.”

For the full list of NICHE Awards Winners, visit the AmericanCraft website.