Central Ohio artists and arts organizations are recognized regionally, nationally and internationally for their achievements. Here are some of the latest headlines:

Fredrik Marsh, Ardine Nelson receive 2008 Guggenheim Fellowships

Photographer Fredrik Marsh, a Greater Columbus Arts Council board member, and his partner Ardine Nelson, a noted local photographer, are both recipients of a 2008 fellowship by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. Marsh, a senior lecturer at Otterbein College, and Nelson, an associate professor at The Ohio State University, are the first couple to receive this honor at the same time. Edward Hirsch, the president of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, announced their fellowships in April as part of a larger award of 190 fellowships to artists, scientists and scholars. The successful candidates were chosen from a group of more than 2,600 applicants, with awards totaling $8,200,000. Guggenheim Fellows are appointed on the basis of stellar achievement and exceptional promise for continued accomplishment. In all, this year's fellows represent 75 disciplines and 81 different academic institutions.

Artists-in-Schools Artist John Becker Releases New Book

John Becker, longtime Artists-in-Schools artist, recently release his newest book, Wild Cats: Past & Present. Published by Darby Creek Publications, Wild Cats explores all 36 species of wild cats. Categorized by geographic region, Becker shows how felines have adapted to their environment—from the tigers of Siberia to the rare, tiny sand cats that hide in the caves and boroughs of northern Africa. Wild Cats: Past & Present also places special emphasis on the ever-shrinking habitat of felines and how conservation groups are working to protect them.

Becker is a co-founder of the International Society for Endangered Cats, where he served as executive director and spent most of his time traveling and talking to people about protecting endangered felines. He’s also a former writer for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

Local Storytellers Present at National Catholic Education Association Convention

Columbus storytellers Sally Crandall, Jim Flanagan, Lyn Ford and Frank McGarvey promoted local storytelling efforts as presenters at the National Catholic Education Association Convention in Indianapolis on Thu., Mar. 27. The group told stories and demonstrated the uses of storytelling in the classroom to more than 300 teachers, librarians and counselors from across the United States. The NCEA is a professional membership organization that provides leadership, direction and service to fulfill the evangelizing, catechizing and teaching mission of the Catholic Church.

Do you have a headline you’d like to share? Send it to Emily Swartzlander at eswartzlander@gcac.org.