THE ALICE DENNEY AWARD

WPA ALICE DENNEY AWARD
2012 Recipient: Molly Ruppert
for Support of Contemporary Art

The Washington Project for the Art’ Alice Denney Award for Support of Contemporary Art was initiated in 2006. It is named for the founder of WPA, Alice Denney, and is presented annually to an individual who has supported the organization for many years and has made a sustained commitment to the greater DC arts community. This year’s honoree, Molly Ruppert, will receive the award at the SELECT exhibition opening reception on February 11, 2012.

Molly Ruppert, a fifth-generation Washingtonian, became interested in the arts in early childhood as a result of her family’s encouragement. Her father made 16mm movies of the children acting out familiar household stories, a drawing teacher came to the house each week to teach the parents and children, and her aunt, a student of Jack Perlmutter (the Chairman of the Printmaking Department at the Corcoran in the 1960s and 70s), took her to museums and galleries and to visit Jack at his studio.

Molly took this love of the arts to Catholic University, where she studied theater and English literature, and to Bowie State, where she completed a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology, and then to NYU, where she recently completed a Certification in Personal Coaching.

In 1992, she opened Ruppert’s Restaurant with her son, Paul, and launched Art Romp, initially a one-night stand of art and performance. This successful event triggered the creation of the Warehouse Theater & Gallery (originally called Studio 1017), a home for local emerging artists for the past 20 years. During that time, the Warehouse has hosted hundreds of artists, performers, musicians, actors, designers, curators, and festivals.

Molly is most proud that the Warehouse served as a launching pad for the careers of numerous DC painters, photographers, sculptors, glass artists, ceramicists, and many other visual artists. As curator/owner of the Warehouse Gallery, Molly’s vision was to create a space and gallery shows where artists could exhibit their work and meet other artists. The Art Romps featured mid-career artists who encouraged less established artists, artists who formed alliances to further their art, and people of all ages who were interested in art and culture and wanted a welcoming place to meet artists.

In addition to the large Warehouse exhibitions which took advantage of the three floors of galleries, Molly, guest curators, and artists produced small group and solo shows exploring contemporary ideas and wide-ranging genres. Some of the best-remembered exhibitions include Molly’s six Peace shows, each addressing the themes of peace and conflict, featuring works by over 150 artists committed to the cause of peace. Through the years, Molly generously welcomed other organizations to present exhibitions at Warehouse including WPA, DCist, Artex, Rhode Island School of Design, and Irvine Contemporary.

In support of the broader art community, Molly created and curated the PixTour Project for FotoWeekDC in 2008 and curated the Whitman Walker Fundraiser Auction in 2010. Molly currently serves on the Board of Directors of the District of Columbia Arts Center and Scena Theatre, and on the Advisory Board of DC Cabaret Network. She recently created a coaching practice devoted to the development of artists. Throughout her career in the arts, she has enjoyed the support of her husband Cappy, her six children, and eighteen grandchildren.

WPA ALICE DENNEY AWARD 2012 Recipient: Molly Ruppert for Support of Contemporary Art

WPA ALICE DENNEY AWARD
2012 Recipient: Molly Ruppert
for Support of Contemporary Art