Wednesday 15 June 2011

Crafted with Character


Before Christmas I was approached by Wilma Hartman of Digital Daisy who produced this video with help from many craftspeople in the province as well as the Craft Council. I believe it was funded through our Craft Industry Development Program.   She came to me with a one line concept for the script "the people, the place and the products are indivisible".  It was an absolute blast learning to interweave 3 streams of information: visual, audio and narration – like learning a new language.  I'd welcome the opportunity to try script writing again.  It seemed like a natural progression from the writing I have down for radio and the visual work I do when I curate exhibitions.  Of course, being posted on you tube is a whole new experience.

Critical Eye Award


This is my "grip and grin" photo with Mary Pratt, who is Patron of the EVAs.  I was lucky to be the first winner of the Critical Eye Award for the best piece of critical writing published about a Newfoundland and Labrador artist during the previous year.  The competition is open to writers worldwide so I hope others will seek nomination for the 2012 EVA Awards.

Winners announced for the 2011 EVA Awards

ST. JOHN’S NL:  The sixth annual Excellence in Visual Arts Awards took place on May 27th at the Rooms, St. John’s, Newfoundland. The EVA Awards are the only awards program celebrating the work of the visual artists of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Large Year Award celebrates a visual artist who has enjoyed an exceptional year, with at least one exhibition and critical recognition. The Large Year Award 2011 went to Veselina Tomova, an artist who works in painting, printmaking, design and pottery from her studio in the Battery, St. John’s.
The Emerging Artist Award honours the promising start made by an emerging visual artist in the early stages of their career.  The Emerging Artist Award 2011 went to St. John’s artist Allen Walbourne, whose work includes installation, painting and printmaking.  Sponsored in 2011 by Grenfell Campus, Memorial University.
The Kippy Goins Award – so named for the small pieces of wood one throws on a fire to “keep it going” – thanks an individual or organization whose efforts have helped to sustain and build the visual arts sector.  The Kippy Goins Awardwent to Angela Antle, artist, active arts community member and promoter of all artists in this province through her position as long-time host of the popular Weekend Arts Magazine on CBC Radio.
Painter, printmaker and sculptor Gerald Squires was the winner of The Long Haul Award, which recognizes a substantial contribution to the visual culture of Newfoundland and Labrador by a senior artist. Gerald’s work is in many public and private collections and have shown in solo exhibitions across Canada. Among other accolades, he is a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Art and the Order of Canada. The Long Haul Award 2011 was sponsored by The Leyton Gallery of Fine Art.
A new award for critical art writing, the Critical Eye Award, celebrates the best piece of critical writing about an NL artist in any print or online publication worldwide. The winner of the first Critical Eye Award is Gloria Hickey, a curator and art writer who won for her piece on Jason Holley’s work in Fusion Magazine.
For more information or to arrange interviews, contact Program Coordinator Dave Andrews at vanl-carfac@nf.aibn.com or 709-738-7303.
The EVA Awards are a Visual Artists Newfoundland and Labrador initiative.

Tuesday 7 June 2011

Heavy metal in Ottawa

 My favourite metal thing in Ottawa!  Maman by Louise Bourgeois, a lady with issues and the talent to deal with them.  Intriguing that Louise B.  contributed so much to the textile art scene after first dismissing it back in '60s.  Her family had a background in the professional restoration of tapestry.  But the spider, menacing, intriguing was the master spinner of them all.