VANL-CARFAC
Visual Artists Newfoundland & Labrador

ST. JOHN’S NL:  The sixth annual Excellence in Visual Arts Awards took place on May 27^th 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 Award went 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.

The Excellence in Visual Arts Awards, also known as the EVAs, are the only awards program in the province dedicated to honouring the achievements of our local visual artists. The EVA awards celebrate artists in all media – painting, photography, sculpture, fine craft, mixed media, installation, performance and more – from all over the province. Awards are given in several categories, including awards for lifetime achievement, mid-career and emerging artists, as well as art writers and supporters of visual art. The 6^th annual EVA Awards will take place at The Rooms on May 27^th, 2011, hosted by CBC’s Debbie Cooper. The reception is at 9 pm, featuring music by Quinton and Rose. All are welcome, so come join the celebration.

The EVAs are a program of Visual Artists Newfoundland and Labrador (VANL-CARFAC), and are supported through the generosity of corporate and private sponsors, including Patron of the Awards, Mary Pratt, Award Sponsors The Leyton Gallery of Fine Art and Grenfell Campus, Memorial University, Gold Sponsors Christina Parker Gallery, The Rooms and College of the North Atlantic, Media Sponsor CBC Newfoundland and Labrador, and Bronze Sponsors Toyota Plaza and Studio At Torbay Bight.

The nominees for this year’s Emerging Artist Award are:

Jason Holley

Jillian Waite

Allen Walbourne

The winners of the Large Year, the Long Haul, the Critical Eye and the Kippy Goins Awards wil be announced at the Awards Ceremony on May 27th.

Get a ticket to the EVAs by calling 738-7303 or emailing vanl-carfac@nf.aibn.com.

For more information see our EVA Awards page.