MINT SELECTS 27 ARTISTIC INFUSION PROGRAM ARTISTS

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V22 2019 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 22, Number 31, August 4, 2019, Article 23

This U.S. Mint press release came out July 17, 2019 with information about the latest members of the Artistic Infusion Program (AIP). -Editor

Today, the United States Mint (Mint) announced that 27 artists have been selected to participate in its Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) to enrich and enhance designs on U.S. coins.

“We’ve selected diverse artists who represent every region of America, from coast to coast,” said Mint Director David J. Ryder. “Sixteen of the artists are new to the program and we’re challenging them to exert a major influence on the future of our nation’s coinage, to aspire to the creative mastery of giants such as Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Victor David Brenner, and A.A. Weinman as the Mint creates new designs in the 21st century.”

AIP artists were selected based on the artistic merit of their applications and demonstration designs they submitted during a national Call for Artists. All the AIP artists selected attended a three-day symposium from June 3 to June 5, 2019, featuring intensive training to welcome, guide and inspire their work. AIP artists who took honors in the 2019 Coin of the Year Awards – Justin Kunz and Chris Costello for the 2017 American Liberty 225th Anniversary Gold Coin as Best Gold Coin, and Emily Damstra for the Boys Town Centennial Silver Dollar, as Most Inspirational Coin – were also recognized at the symposium with a commemorative plaque signed by the Director of the Mint.

To save space, instead of a table I'll list the names here: Katelyn Arquette, Peter Beck, Robert J. Clarke, Chris Costello, Emily Damstra, Allen Douglas, Lucas Durham, Don Everhart, Steve Ferris, Barbara Fox, Dennis Friel, Elana Hagler, Christina Hess, Tom Hipschen, Steven Kenny, Justin Kunz, Patricia Lucas-Morris, Richard Masters, Frank Morris, Laurie Musser, Jennie Norris, Ron Sanders, Ben Sowards, Matt Swaim, Heidi Wastweet, Donna Weaver and Beth Zaiken.

There are many familiar names here, including former Mint personnel Don Everhart and Donna Weaver, former Citizen's Coinage Advisory Committee member Heidi Wastweet, and former Bureau of Engraving and Printing artist Tom Hipschen.

I spent some time looking up some of the new artists. Some are fine artists or graphic designers who haven't done coin or medal designs before (first time for everything, though)! Good luck, all. We;ll look forward to collecting your work. -Editor

The AIP was established in 2003. It serves to enrich and invigorate the design of United States coins and medals by developing a pool of outside artists who specialize in graphic design, sculpture, engraving, drawing, painting, and other visual arts. These artists work closely with the United States Mint’s staff, including Sculptor-Engravers, to create and submit new designs for selected coin and medal programs throughout the year.

The designs of AIP artists adorn many United States coins and medals, such as America the Beautiful Quarters®, Native American $1 coins, commemorative coins, platinum proof coins, Congressional Gold Medals, American Liberty gold coins, and various silver and bronze medals.

Artists who join the AIP work under a task order contract from their own studios across the country, providing candidate designs in the form of finished drawings. Artists are paid $2,000 to $3,000 per assignment and are awarded a $5,000 bonus if their design is selected for a coin or medal by the Secretary of the Treasury. In addition to the bonus, the artist is named in historical documents, Certificates of Authenticity, and promotional materials. In most cases, the artist’s initials appear on the final coins or medals along with the initials of the Sculptor-Engraver who sculpted the selected design.