BMO 1st Art Awards – Canada’s Emerging Student Artists
Ceremony: Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Exhibition Runs from October 3 – 28, 2012
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY CANADIAN ART
This was the tenth anniversary for the BMO 1st Art Awards and the evening was celebrated with the exhibition of works and the awarding of prize monies to all 12 regional winners and the National Winner Mika Goodfriend of Concordia University. The range of works was diverse including a variety of media. Works included photography, mixed media, sculpture, printmaking and painting.
Opening remarks by Gilles G. Ouellette, President & Chief Executive Officer, Private Client Group, BMO Financial Group
The quality of work was high and the winners will find their work in the BMO Corporate Art Collection with the likes of Paterson Ewen , Emily Carr, Ian Wallace, Lawren Harris and other well known Canadian artists.
Father Dan Donovan, St Michaels College Collection and Olga Korper of Olga Korper Gallery
The occasion was attended by art gallery directors and collectors from across the city as well as representatives from BMO and art patrons. The winners were introduced by Dawn Cain, curator of the BMO Financial Group Corporate Art Collection. Opening remarks came from Gilles G. Ouellette, President & Chief Executive Officer, Private Client Group, BMO Financial Group.
Dawn Cain, curator of the BMO Financial Group Corporate Art Collection, and National winner Mika Goodfriend
2012 Winners:
BMO 1st Art! National Winner – Mika Goodfriend, ConcordiaUniversity
National Winner Mika Goodfriend from Concordia University documented French Quebecois retirees often referred to as Snowbirds. His diptych and social commentary on the snowbirds was wonderful.
BMO 1st Art! Regional Winners:
Alberta – Noor ul Ain, Alberta College of Art and Design
British Columbia – Yi Xin Tong, SimonFraserUniversity
Manitoba – Agnes Neufeld, University of Manitoba
New Brunswick – Nathan Cann, Mount Allison University
Newfoundland & Labrador – Diana Chisholm, Grenfell Campus, Memorial University
Nova Scotia – Jessie Babin, Nova Scotia School of Art and Design
Nunavut – Lavinia Van Heuvelen, Nunavut Arctic College
Ontario – Sarah Beatie, Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, Brock University
Prince Edward Island – Adnan Saciragic, HollandCollege
Quebec – Jean- Michel Leclerc, Universite du Quebec a Montreal
Saskatchewan – Anita Miles, University Of Regina
Yukon Territory – Kristen Poenn, Yukon School of Visual Arts
Noor Ul Ain, In and about the shadows that I follow and around the shadows that you follow
Noor Ul Ain of the Alberta College of Art had a mixed media work titled, In and about the shadows that I follow and around the shadows that you follow. This towering work of wire, thread and fabric was delicate and engaging.
Jessie Babin, Nova Scotia winner
Lavinia Van Heuvelen, Nunauvut winner
Kristen Poenn of the Yukon School of Visual Arts, work Coyote Crown used plaster, coyote fur, latex, wir, styrofoam, hot glue and oil paint to depict a three headed, ferrous headpiece.
All the works on display were impressive works and it will be worth following these students as they follow their career paths as artists. Congratulations to BMO for recognizing emerging student artists and kudos for MOCCA for exhibiting and supporting these artists.
Text and photo: Phil Anderson