YMCA of Greater Indianapolis Presents MK Shannon Awards

The YMCA of Greater Indialanapolis has once again presented an award designed by MK Shannon. The name of the award is Family Circle. Since 2010, the YMCA of Greater Indialanapolis has used Family Circle as their Lifetime Achievement award. This award is often used to honor dedicated employees, volunteers, people who have devoted much of their time to the organization, or made significant accomplishments. MK Shannon Awards will customize the piece with a unique marble base engraved with the recipient's name, organization, and date. Since Family Circle represents a family unit, it has also over the years been purchased by family after family to represent themselves. These make wonderful gifts for milestone birthdays and special anniversaries.

“Since I first carved Family Circle and saw it cast in pewter,” says MK, “I still enjoy hearing about how the award will be given and stories about the people who receive it.”

Cast in pewter, Family Circle is available with a brushed pewter finish, or silver or gold plating. Family Circle stands 12” tall including the marble base.

MK Shannon Designs Awards for the International Fashion Film Festival

MK Shannon Awards & Rewards is happy to introduce a new custom award created for Cinémoi. Nevin Milan, the creative director for Cinémoi, contacted the offices of MK Shannon to express an interest in having MK design an original award for the annual International Fashion Film Festival. It would be the first time awards would be presented. Nevin and MK immediately connected and began working together to create a design that would capture the essence of this first event. Very quickly they developed an award that met all the imaginings of both. The design was developed and produced in pewter within 4 weeks! Shown below, you can follow along with the progress—the sketch, the model for the piece, and the finished award.

Sketch for International Fashion Film Award

Model for International Fashion Film Award

International Fashion Film Award

MK Shannon Awards can produce custom awards very quickly,” says MK, “but it was Nevin’s quick work and perseverance that allowed us to meet his deadline.” Fifteen awards were presented at the ceremony live on the network. The event can be viewed at http://www.cinemoi.us

Nevin wrote “Finally got to see the award statuette in person last night before they were presented. Everyone said they were stunning. Seriously, they are great!”

Nevin Milan, creative director for Cinémoi with International Fashion Film Award

Cinémoi is a 24-hour network featuring curated films from around the world and high couture festivals new to the U. S. television market. Cinémoi is nestled among AMX, FX Movie Channel, IFC, Sundance Channel, and Turner Classic Movies. Cinemoi presents vintage to contemporary award-winning movies.

“We’re committed to offering high-quality entertainment with unparalleled style and elegance, and believe that Cinémoi, will become a network of choice for a breadth of American viewers,” offered Rod Sherwood, CEO of Cinémoi North America. More than just a movie channel, Cinémoi is aimed at discerning viewers who aspire for enticing and sophisticated entertainment.

Brain Research Foundation's 2013 Annual Discovery Dinner Presents MK Shannon Awards

On the evening of November 5, 2013 the Brain Research Foundation's Annual Discovery Dinner was held to present the Frederic Gibbs Discovery Award to David Nelms of Discover Financial and Jeffrey Aronin of Paragon Pharmaceuticals.

2012 honoree Greg Case of AON (left) presenting to David Nelms of Discover Financial

The Brain Research Foundation supports neuroscience research that leads to advanced understanding of brain function in children and adults, and that will lead to prevention and treatments for all neurological diseases.

2012 honoree Michael Ferro of Chicago Sun Times (right) presenting to Jeffrey Aronin of Paragon Pharmaceuticals.

Ms. Susan Gilman, Executive Assistant, at the Brain Research Foundation was kind enough to forward us photos taken at their Annual Discovery Dinner. We so appreciate the opportunity to once again showcase MK Shannon Awards (our third year) and at the same time offer you the opportunity to take a closer look at this amazing organization. There is so much positive energy present within this organization. One look at the award recipient’s faces, says it all! We are grateful to The Brain Research Foundation as are so many people throughout our country!

Whoopi Goldberg Receives “Provincetown Care Award” by MK Shannon Awards

Whoopi Golderg with Award Designed by MK Shannon

Whoopi Goldberg, the renowned actress, comedienne, singer-songwriter, political activist, author and talk show host, recently received an award from Provincetown Cares, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and funds for women’s health and breast cancer through live entertainment.

The award entitled “United” designed by MK Shannon was presented to Goldberg at its annual Provincetown Cares benefit. The award is presented to honor individuals whose achievements through public or personal advocacy have made a difference in women’s health care.

The annual event is held to recognize the contribution of individuals and to raise money for research, education, screening and treatment for breast cancer and other critical health issues affecting women. Provincetown Cares has raised over $100,00 for these causes.

Creating "In Harmony" for the Jane Goodall Society

In 2007 MK Shannon was contacted by Marika Holmgren, founder of Organic Events. Her client, The Jane Goodall Society, was looking to have a custom award created for their Leadership Awards program that was to be established that year. MK met by phone several times with the planning staff and MK submitted several drawings of concepts from which Jane Goodall and her team could select the most appropriate. This was a commissioned piece and the copyright was donated by MK Shannon to The Jane Goodall Society. The award needed to reflect the aspect of Jane's work that are dearest to her heart: People, particularly children, Earth, and Peace. MK incorporated these aspects into a finished design entitled "In Harmony". The sculpture depicts a young figure standing on half a globe with one leg kicked up in the air and whose arms are both thrown up in the air in a statement of joy! The arms of the figure morph into the wings of a dove. 

In Harmony award for the Jane Goodall Society

This award is cast in pewter and has been presented to heads of state, government officials, entertainers, CEOs, educators, and outstanding individuals without question who have stood up for peace, the earth and us all! The awards are presented once a year in Los Angeles and Washington D.C. Jane Goodall is an amazing woman. She personally took time to greet and meet MK Shannon at one of the Los Angeles presentations. "I was so inspired meeting Jane, this tiny woman with so much passion and energy. She was so warm and engaging, I will never forget the time she took with me; she is a gift to our planet." said MK.

General Electric Aviation's "Blade" an Extraordinarily Engineered Work of Art!

This custom project involved the reproduction of a portion of a GE engine blade whose unique and innovative design is displayed at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. There is only one word to describe the elegance of this “blade”, gorgeous! It was a joy for MK Shannon to recreate and experience this exquisite piece of work. It is about two feet tall and very dynamic. A black patina was used to create a contrast that allows the beauty of the blade to exhibit itself sharply.

It took several weeks to complete the model . The base of the award was also designed by GE Aviation and then executed by MK Shannon Awards following specific directions provided by GE. The name plate is imprinted on clear Lucite and raised off the marble base with small aluminum tubing to make it stand out.

As an award for engineers it is pretty extraordinary.

Close up of Clear Lucite Nameplate

The Making of the Waxy Awards for the Hollywood Wax Museum

A little history about the Hollywood Wax Museum:

The Hollywood Wax Museum, located on Hollywood Boulevard along the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, California, is the longest running wax museum in the history of the United States, with more than 48 years of continuous operation by the same owners since 1965.

--HollywoodWaxMuseum.com/

In the fall of 2012, for their new Waxy Awards program, they commissioned MK Shannon to interpret and copy their company's highly-recognized outdoor display sign (shown here).

This design is very complex and required several days work to construct as a model for final approval by the owner (see mockup in black and white). The original artwork had to be redrawn to make it suitable for model making and casting. Aileen Stein, Director of Corporate Communications for Kuvera Partners Inc., was tireless in her efforts to co-ordinate this project quickly and efficiently, assisting MK at every turn and providing excellent support. This project could not have succeeded without her.

Once the designs to be modeled and cast were approved, MK constructed the model, worked with the mold-maker, and oversaw final assembly of the cast parts. Five awards were completed and plated in Sterling Silver for the first Waxy Awards event at the new Hollywood Wax Museum in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee (see photo of final Waxy Award).

Within four weeks and a lot of phone calls, emails, and hard work, the awards were completed and shipped. Aileen's comments say it all: "Approved. It's looking great. Please proceed. Thanks so much for your amazing effort!"

These are the names of the 5 WAXY AWARDS presented on October 24, 2012 and their recipients:

WAXY AWARD—Creativity: Studio Y Creations

WAXY AWARD—Excellence: D and S Builders

WAXY AWARD—Community Service: Boys and Girls Club of the Smoky Mountains

WAXY AWARD—Camaraderie: City of Pigeon Forge Community Development

WAXY AWARD—Founder's Award: Chanchil Sundher