John Ross Palmer wins Artist of the Year at 2013 F.A.C.E. Awards

HOUSTON - Dec. 10, 2013 - PRLog -- On December 9, 2013, Artist John Ross Palmer was honored to win Artist of the Year at the 2013 F.A.C.E. Awards.  F.A.C.E. Awards (First Achievers in Community Excellence) honor the top people in the Houston LGBT community with several voting categories related to fundraising, civic leadership and entertainment.  The winners are decided by the community itself via a public voting process.  This was the second win for Palmer in this category—having been bestowed this same prize at the inaugural awards gala in 2012.  Palmer began the evening at the star-studded event as the ceremony’s first Presenter—giving out the prizes for Non-Profit of the Year and CEO, President, Board Member of the Year.  Presenters like Palmer were selected because of their outstanding community achievements, dedication to Equality, and their commitment to show appreciation to others in our community that advances our cause (FACEAwards.org).

         Palmer was humbled by the award and chose to thank community leaders in his acceptance speech.  He reminded the audience that without the hard work of our LGBT activists we wouldn’t be able to celebrate these successes openly.  Palmer specifically thanked friend and fellow Presenter Attorney Mitchell Katine as well as business icon Charles Armstrong.  Palmer, a former employee of Armstrong, was most moved by Armstrong’s F.A.C.E. Award win for Lifetime Achievement.  Palmer’s first-ever public art unveiling was hosted by Armstrong’s Montrose mainstay, the legendary J.R.’s Bar & Grill.  The 2013 ceremony was hosted by Meteor—a particularly poignant spot for Palmer because he met his husband Ryan Lindsay at this locale in the Fall of 2002.

         2013 has been monumental for John Ross Palmer.  He received critical praise for his two published art series, São Paulo 2013 and Skopelos 2013.  He completed the fifth year of his artist-empowering Escapist Mentorship Program (EscapistProgram.com).  Through his Refuse to Struggle campaign, he raised more than $76,000 in 46 days via an Indiegogo Campaign to construct an Escapist Artist Gallery & Studios (RefusetoStruggle.com).  Through his donation of time, resources and artwork, Palmer gave close to $10,000 to his Charity of the Year, Writers in the Schools.  On the date of his gallery’s black tie gala An Evening of Escapism, October 19^th, it was proclaimed to be John Ross Palmer Day in the City of Houston by Mayor Annise D. Parker.

If you have any questions about Artist John Ross Palmer or his winning Artist of the Year at the 2013 F.A.C.E. Awards, please contact art gallery co-owner Ryan Lindsay at 713-861-6726 or Ryan@JohnPalmerArt.com.  You can learn all about Artist John Ross Palmer by visiting http://www.JohnPalmerArt.com.