National Gallery of Canada announces top three works in nation-wide art contest for teens – So You Want To Be An Artist?
Artwork by winners and nine finalists are displayed at the Gallery until
July 3.
OTTAWA, June 13, 2012 /CNW/ – The National Gallery of Canada (NGC) today
announced the names of the winning artists in its second annual on-line
contest, So You Want To Be An Artist? The contest is intended to enhance the enjoyment of art among young
people all over Canada, while providing them with an opportunity to
share their talent, ideas and opinions in a manner that helps them feel
connected to the Gallery. A jury of experts met on June 4 to decide on
the top three artworks among the 12 that had garnered the most on-line
votes in April. The winner of the 1(st) prize is Paula Rayo of London, ON for her creation, The Memoirs of War (Souvenirs de guerre). Andrew An of Delta, BC has won 2(nd) prize for his work, Snowboarding (Planche à neige), and 3(rd) prize goes to Niki Watts of Hagensborg, BC for her submission, Thunder Dancer (Danseur-tonnerre).
More than 198 talented teens across the country, aged 16 to 19 years,
entered the contest and submitted their creations, along with an artist
statement, on line. The artwork covered an array of diverse and
wide-ranging themes: identity and culture, justice and human rights,
fighting prejudice, and preserving the environment. The winning
entries, along with those of the finalists – which received a total of
37,948 votes during the designated period – are displayed at the
National Gallery of Canada, on the Artissimo wall, until Tuesday, July
3. They can also be viewed on line at makeart.gallery.ca.
All five members of the jury – comprised of Peter Simpson,
Arts-editor-at-large for The Ottawa Citizen; Claude Deschênes, cultural reporter for Télévision de Radio-Canada;
interdisciplinary artist Sonny Assu; illustrator/graphic designer
Jonathan Cruz; and Kim Morgan, artist and NSCAD professor – were
impressed with the young artists’ creativity and talent. “The
impressive level of creativity and technical expertise reflected in
each artwork presented a challenge for the jury of experts in choosing
the three winners,” explained Gary Goodacre, NGC Manager, Youth and
School Programs.
The other finalists are:
Gabrielle Brochu, Entends ma prière (Hear my Prayer) – Acrylic and India ink
Lysandra Coules, Strength Shield (Écran de force) – Photography
Dominique Cyr, If Only We Knew the Truth (Si seulement nous connaissions la vérité) – Oil
Jessica Desrochers, Le droit d’aimer (The Right to Love) - Charcoal, graphite and ink
Sophie Masson, C’est moi, just me ! - Oil
Sydney McKenna, Within Her Roots (Dans ses racines) – Ink, acrylic, watercolour and graphite on wood
Erica Phillips, Totem (Mât totémique) – Digital proof on canvas
Josh Tiessen, Overshadowed (Éclipsé) – Acrylic on fibreboard
Sofia Becerra, Portrait of Humanity (Portrait d’humanité) - Acrylic on canvas
Prizes Awarded to the Winners
The winner of the first prize, which includes round-trip travel to
Ottawa, will be afforded an opportunity for a behind-the-scenes visit
to the NGC and given a chance to meet professionals working at the
Gallery. Paula Rayo will also have her portfolio reviewed by an expert and be awarded a
$500 gift certificate for art supplies. Andrew An, the 2(nd)-prize winner, will receive a $1,000 gift certificate for art supplies
and Niki Wattas, who won 3(rd) prize, will be given a $500 gift certificate, also for art supplies.
The Gallery thanks its sponsors
Gift certificates for art supplies for the top three winners were
generously offered by the Faculty of Arts, University of Ottawa. CanvasPop graciously provided vouchers to the top 12 finalists to reproduce their
artwork on canvas.
About the National Gallery of Canada
The National Gallery of Canada is home to the largest collection of
historical and contemporary Canadian art in the world. It also
maintains Canada’s premier collection of European art from the 14(th) to the 21(st) centuries, major works of American, Asian and Indigenous art, as well
as an internationally renowned collection of prints, drawings and
photographs. Created in 1880, the National Gallery of Canada has played
a key role in Canadian culture for well over a century. Among its
principal missions is increasing access to excellent works of art for
all Canadians. This is done by maintaining the largest touring art
exhibition program in the world. For more information, go to www.gallery.ca.
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SOURCE National Gallery of Canada
