The Grand Junction Commission on Arts and Culture just presented the annual Champion of the Arts Awards to three outstanding local businesses and individuals:  St. Mary’s Hospital & Medical Center, Pamela Blythe of Blythe Group + Co., and Krystyn Hartman (Grand Valley Magazine).

St. Mary’s Hospital was nominated by the Western Colorado Center for the Arts for their long-standing commitment to local and regional artists through the purchase and display of artists’ work for many years, and in particular their recent purchase of $375,000 in original and reproductive artwork by Colorado artists for the new Century Project.

Pamela Blythe, the designer behind much of St. Mary’s art collection including the Century Project, was nominated by the Western Colorado Center for the Arts and Christy Whitney, director of Hospice & Palliative Care of Western Colorado for her 35 year career beautifying Grand Junction commercial buildings and always looking for ways to incorporate original and often local artwork into her projects.

And Krystyn Hartman and her publication Grand Valley Magazine were nominated by Deborah Snider, Mesa State College Assistant Professor of Art Education, for her contributions as executive director of the Grand Junction Musical Arts Association and the music scene and GV Magazine’s cultural arts focus.  Congratulations to these three Champions!