About Edith Baker
Edith Baker, long a prolific contributor to the Dallas arts scene, was born and educated in Bulgaria, where she graduated from the American College with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Studies at Chicago’s Art Institute were a prelude to her continued scholarship in Dallas, where she studied during the 1950s with the city’s prominent core of contemporary artists: Octavio Medellin, Otis Dozier, Jerry Bywaters, Roger Winter and DeForrest Judd.
After a period of travel and study of art history and painting in France, Portugal and Mexico was terminated, she returned to Dallas in 1963 to establish her own studio and for the next 15 years taught and lectured, including a three year symposium at Temple Emanu-El on ”œUnderstanding of Modern Art” based on a syllabus developed at Brandeis University.
While continuing to teach, in 1977 she became a partner in a Dallas art gallery, which ultimately evolved into the Edith Baker Gallery, with a concentration on the work of local and regional contemporary artists, another evidence of her devotion to the local artistic community. In 1985 she became a charter member and active participant in the establishment of DADA, the Dallas Art Dealers Association. In 1992 Edith Baker and Patricia Meadows co-founded EASL, the Emergency Artists Support League, a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to North Texas visual artists who are in dire distress because of unforeseen medical emergency or catastrophic events.
Although Edith Baker’s enthusiastic efforts in the success of EASL contributed toward her receiving the Dallas Visual Arts Center’s (now known as Dallas Contemporary) Legend Award in 1977, as well as a prestigious High Profile article in The Dallas Morning News, she believes that the real heroes are the artists who contribute their work to the annual fund raising events, which distribute grants to those artists in need.
See The Dallas Morning News High Profile story about Edith Baker below.
ABOUT THE EDITH BAKER ART SCHOLARSHIP AND ARTIST CAREER DEVELOPMENT FUND
To celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2005, DADA created a scholarship fund honoring a respected member of the Dallas art community and one of its founding members, Edith Baker. Edith owned and directed The Edith Baker Gallery in Dallas for nearly 30 years before retiring in 2004. Every year, the Edith Baker Art Scholarship and Artist Career Development Fund, a 501(c)(3), financially benefits students pursuing the study of visual arts along with giving those students a gallery internship, a mentor and an artist studio visit. The Fund also presents a career fair at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, a juried exhibition of high school students’ artwork, a docent-training program, and biannual educational events.
*The Edith Baker Art Scholarship and Artist Career Development Fund is a tax exempt non-profit organization under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
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Edith Baker
Current Winners
Carrington Turner
2020 Scholarship WinnerThe Craighead-Green Fund for the Arts Award – $500 – is awarded to Carrington Turner. In 2013 the Steven L. Green and Kenneth R. Craighead Jr. Fund for Arts and Education was added and sponsors an annual scholarship in support of... | Read More
Mathew Sanchez
2020 Scholarship WinnerThe Texas Visual Art Association Award – $250 is awarded to Mathew Sanchez – Since 2006 TVAA has been showcasing established artists and providing learning opportunities for emerging artists in its Dallas gallery in the Plaza of the... | Read More
Thursdae Sierocki
2020 Scholarship WinnerThe DADA Excellence in Art Award – $500 is awarded to Thursdae Sierocki – Created in 2016, this award is available to art students to help further their education in the arts and made possible by donations to DADA and recognizes... | Read More
Myah Husbany
2020 Scholarship WinnerThe recipient of the 2020 Edith Baker Art Scholarship Award – $1,000– Myah Husband. To celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2005 DADA created The Edith Baker Art Scholarship Fund honoring Edith Baker a founding member and respected... | Read More
Past Winners
Reyna Flores, Mountain View College
2013 Scholarship WinnerReyna Flores is an emerging artist from Dallas, Texas. She currently is studying at Mountain View College where she is working towards her Associates in Art. Her art has been exhibited at the Bath House Cultural Center, the Latino Cultural... | Read More
Roy Martinez, El Centro
2013 Scholarship WinnerRoy Martinez was born in Chicago, Ill on Dec. 8, 1984. He moved from Chicago to Dallas when he was 10. He went to elementary school for a couple years in Mesquite, but then moved to Garland. He attended middle school and graduated from South... | Read More
Fernando Johnson, Brookhaven College
2012 Scholarship WinnerDADA presented its Edith Baker Art Scholarship to Fernando Johnson of Brookhaven College at a reception on Friday, Sept. 21 at Irving Arts Center, 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd. in Irving, Texas.
Fernando... | Read More
Michelle Reyes, El Centro College
2011 Scholarship WinnerDADA presented its Edith Baker Art Scholarship to Michelle Reyes, a visual art student from El Centro College of the Dallas County Community College District at a reception on Friday, Sept. 9, 2011 at The McKinney Avenue Contemporary, 3120... | Read More
Edith Baker Art Scholarship 2014 winner Avery Storms
2014 Scholarship WinnerEdith Baker Art Scholarship 2014 winner Avery Storms was a student at Booker T. Washington High School for the Visual and Performing Arts. His art was exhibited at Norwood Flynn Gallery during DADA Spring Gallery Walk. The jury selected Avery for... | Read More
Edith Baker Art Scholarship 2014 winner Lesley Yruegas
2014 Scholarship WinnerEdith Baker Art Scholarship 2014 winner Lesley Yruegas was a student at Booker T. Washington High School for the Visual and Performing Arts. Her art was exhibited at Norwood Flynn Gallery during DADA Spring Gallery Walk. The jury selected... | Read More
Edith Baker Art Scholarship 2014 winner Amber Skye Padilla
2014 Scholarship WinnerEdith Baker Art Scholarship 2014 winner Amber Skye Padilla was a student at Booker T. Washington High School for the Visual and Performing Arts. Her art was exhibited at Norwood Flynn Gallery during DADA Spring Gallery Walk. The jury selected... | Read More
Joseph Racz – 2016 Edith Baker Art Scholarship
2016 Scholarship WinnerThe Edith Baker Art Scholarship Award for $5,000 was presented to Joseph Racz by Edith Baker, founding member of DADA and the Scholarship Awards. Racz is dedicated to art, and is attending Pratt Institute in the fall to pursue a BFA in... | Read More
Vivie Behrens – 2016 DADA Excellence in Art Award
2016 Scholarship WinnerThe DADA Excellence in Art Award for $1,000 was presented to Vivie Behrens – Behrens is an exceptional artist who believes in developing conceptually powerful images and marrying them with traditional techniques. She has an ambitious plan... | Read More
Lauren Kuehmeier – Craighead Green Scholarship Fund
2016 Scholarship WinnerFor excellence in voice and vision the Craighead Green Fund for the Arts Award for $2,500 was presented to Lauren Kuehmeier. The Steven L. Green and Kenneth R. Craighead Jr. Fund for Arts and Education was created to help young contemporary... | Read More
Julie Torres – 2017 Edith Baker Art Scholarship
2017 Scholarship WinnerEdith Baker Art Scholarship Award – for $5,000
Julie Torres is The recipient of the 2017 Edith Baker Art Scholarship and will be the first in her family to attend college. She is an advocate in our community and is an artist with a... | Read More
Margaret King – 2017 Craighead Green Fund for the Arts
2017 Scholarship WinnerMargaret King – Craighead Green Fund for the Arts Award – for $2,500
The Steven L. Green and Kenneth R. Craighead Jr. Fund for Arts and Education supports young contemporary artists and provides an opportunity to further... | Read More
Jackson Daughety – DADA Excellence in Art given by Martin & Martin Design
2017 Scholarship WinnerJackson Daughety – DADA Excellence in Art Award – for $1,000. We would like to thank Monte and Georgia Martin with Martin & Martin Design (a fine art services co.) for supporting our art community and local artists by sponsoring... | Read More
Daniela Segovia
2018 Scholarship WinnerDaniela is the recipient of the 2018 Edith Baker Art Scholarship Award – for $5,000.
The recipient of this award shares a diverse cultural experience and unique personal vision of family and community through a specific quality of... | Read More
Connor Coleman
2018 Scholarship WinnerConnor Coleman is the recipient of The Craighead Green Fund for the Arts Award – for $2,500.
The award provides an opportunity to further develop artistic vision through higher education.
Given to Connor for his excellence in... | Read More
Gabriela Noriega
2018 Scholarship WinnerGabriela is the recipient of the DADA Award of Excellence for $1,000. This award is made possible by DADA members and friends to recognize conceptual creativity and technical skill. This scholarship goes to an exceptional artist whose work... | Read More
Jeson “Robynn” Aviles
2019 Scholarship WinnerThe recipient of the 2019 Edith Baker Art Scholarship Award – for $5,000 is Jeson “Robynn” Aviles. To celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2005 DADA created The Edith Baker Art Scholarship Fund honoring Edith Baker a founding... | Read More
Ari Medina
2019 Scholarship WinnerThe Craighead-Green Fund for the Arts Award – $2,500 – is awarded to Ari Medina. In 2013 the Steven L. Green and Kenneth R. Craighead Jr. Fund for Arts and Education was added and sponsors an annual scholarship in support of young... | Read More
Isabella Bruner
2019 Scholarship WinnerThe DADA Excellence in Art Award – $1,000 is awarded to Isabella Bruner – Created in 2016, this award is available to art students to help further their education in the arts and made possible by Mary Beaudry Gallery and Mary Tomás... | Read More
Leah Lara
2019 Scholarship WinnerThe Texas Visual Art Association Award – $500 is awarded to Leah Lara – Since 2006 TVAA has been showcasing established artists and providing learning opportunities for emerging artists in its Dallas gallery in the Plaza of the... | Read More