The Collectors of Wood Art, a national organization of collectors, galleries and artists in the field of wood arts and furniture making, has conferred its Lifetime Achievement Award for 2010 on Stoney Lamar of Saluda.

The award was given in recognition of Lamars distinguished service over a lifetime in the field as an artist, scholar, advocate, fundraiser and untiring service to the field. Lamar, 58, was born in Alexandria, LA, and graduated from Appalachian State University in 1979. He has enjoyed success and acclaim for his work as a woodturner and sculptor over a 30-year career.

His work is in such collections as High Museum of Art in Atlanta, the Museum of Arts & Design in New York, Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian Institute, Yale University Gallery of Art, Mint Museum of Craft and Design in North Carolina, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Racine Art Museum in Wisconsin, the Detroit Institute of Art and 20 other major institutions. His work is also found in virtually all major private collections of wood art.

Lamar is currently on the board of the American Craft Council, a national organization located in Minneapolis, the Southern Highlands Handicraft Guild and the Center for Craft, Creativity and Design of Hendersonville, North Carolina, of which he was president from 2003 to 2007.

The award was presented to Lamar by Dr. Jeffrey Bernstein, president of CWA, at the organizations annual banquet in Chicago, IL, which was attended by more than 100 members and interested persons.

Lamars wife, Susan Casey, is the owner and operator of the Purple Onion in Saluda.