Ann and her husband, Steve have achieved three “firsts” at ArtPrize® this fall. First and foremost is Ann being the only artist to win the Grand Prize two times, second, Ann and Steve are the first collaborative team to be the winners and lastly, Steve is the first photographer to be awarded the Grand prize. Their 5 foot high by 25 foot long entry is titled “Northwood Awakening” and is created in a process they call PhotoFiber™, which is a mixed media of photography and textiles. The composition begins on the left as a actual photographic print but as the viewer moves to the right down the photo it gradually begins to transform into Ann’s quilted mosaic technique. The process is intended to trick the viewer into not being aware of the transition of photography as a literal medium and the interpretive medium of quilted fabric. The image itself represents the awakening of a beautiful Northern Michigan woods after winter just as the leaves pop out on the trees and the Trillium are in full blossom. It represents the renewal of growth and life in the world.