VANL-CARFAC
Visual Artists Newfoundland & Labrador

Winners announced for the 2021 Excellence in Visual Arts Awards

 

For immediate release:

JOHN’S NL:  The fifteenth annual Excellence in Visual Arts Awards took place virtually on July 9th. The event was hosted by Emma Burry.  The EVA Awards are the only awards program solely dedicated to celebrating the work of the visual artists of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Emerging Artist Award honors the promising start made by an emerging visual artist in the early stages of their career.  The Emerging Artist Award 2021 went to artist Alex Antle from the community of
Elmastukwek, Ktaqmkuk (Bay of Islands,Newfoundland).

The Milestone Award celebrates a visual artist who has, in the last calendar year, achieved a significant milestone in their career, through exhibition or presentation, a breakthrough in their practice, or new and innovative exploration. This year’s Milestone Award went to St. John’s, Ktaqmkuk-based artist Kai Bryan.

The Mary MacDonald Award is named to honour NL’s beloved arts administrator, curator and writer Mary MacDonald, who passed away in 2017, and who demonstrated an unfailing belief and support for the work of artists and arts organizations as being absolutely necessary and essential to the wider community.  This award, thanks an individual or organization whose efforts have helped to sustain and build the visual arts sector.  The winner of this year’s Mary MacDonald Award is Union House Arts.   

The Critical Eye Award celebrates the best piece of critical writing about an NL artist in any print or online publication worldwide. This year’s winner of the Critical Eye is Bonavista Penninsula’s Jane Walker, for her piece “Keeping the Lights On: Will Gill, Pepa Chan and Mike Gough”

The Endurance Award recognizes the consistent dedication and commitment of an artist to their professional practice, and to sustained creative output and performance.  This year’s winner of the Endurance Award was artist Tara Bryan, who is receiving this award posthumously. 

For more information or to arrange interviews, contact Program Coordinator, Kristen Piercey at vanlcarfac@gmail.com or 709-738-7303.

The EVA Awards are a Visual Artists Newfoundland and Labrador initiative.

 

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Shortlists Announced for the 2021 Excellence in Visual Arts Awards

ST. JOHN’S, NL:  The fifteenth annual Excellence in Visual Arts Awards will take place online on July 9th, St. John’s, Newfoundland. The EVA Awards are the only awards program solely dedicated to celebrating the visual culture of Newfoundland and Labrador.

This year’s EVA Awards jury reviewed submissions from across the province, representing a wide spectrum of artistic mediums and styles.  Below are the short lists for three of the five awards – the winners of the Endurance Award (Prize $2000) and Mary MacDonald Award (Prize: $1000 and an artwork by Molly Margaret) will be announced at the ceremony. 

The Emerging Artist Award honors the promising start made by an emerging visual artist in the early stages of their career. Prize: $2000

      The Emerging Artist Award Shortlist

       Alex Antle

       Emily Critch

       Ashley Hemmings

       Ethan Murphy

The Milestone Award celebrates a visual artist who has, in the last calendar year, achieved a significant milestone in their career, through exhibition or presentation, a breakthrough in their practice, or new and innovative exploration.   Prize: $2000

     The Milestone Award Shortlist

       Kai Bryan

       Jessica Waterman

       Nelson White

       D’Arcy Wilson

The Critical Eye Award recognizes a visual arts writer for an exceptional piece of writing on a NL artist in any print or online publication worldwide.  Prize: $2000. 

     The Critical Eye Award Shortlist

       Jenn Thornhill Verma

       Jane Walker

 

For more information or to arrange interviews, contact Program Coordinator, Kristen Regular at vanlcarfac@gmail.com or 709-738-7303. The awards will be viewable live online on July 9th.  For access to the livestream please contact the VANL office.

The EVA Awards are a Visual Artists Newfoundland and Labrador (VANL-CARFAC) initiative.

 

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Artist Talks with Sabrina Moores & Jennifer Young

VANL-CARFAC is pleased to present the second of two installments of artist talks by the participants in our 2020-21 Mentorship Program. Please join us via Zoom on June 28th at 8pm, where Sabrina Moores and Jennifer Young will discuss their work, their practices, and their experiences with the mentorship program.
 
Sabrina Moores is a polymer clay artist living in Goulds with a lifelong passion for art. Since 2017, her business – EJK Designs – has been her primary creative outlet. She creates mummers, ornaments, jewelry, and customized cake toppers out of polymer clay.
 
Jennifer Young is fascinated with being able to translate the human story into a visual representation. Transforming a passionate narrative that moves between abstract and representational. Her work primarily encompasses two media: oil and encaustic. Each allows her to express her understanding and expression of place in very different ways. Her oil painting style moves between brush and pallet knife depending on the subject and movement of the piece, while her encaustic work is much more abstract as it flows with the heating and application of the wax. Jennifer’s creative journey has been extensive spanning many years of learning, experimentation, practice and proficiency. Her work has been produced in classes, her home studio and a significant amount in various plein air settings.
 
The VANL-CARFAC Mentorship Program was created to provide opportunities for productive and supportive relationships between established professional artists and artists wishing to develop and enhance their practice. The mentors provide one on one encouragement, advice, information and resources to mentees, who are aiming to achieve specific professional goals. Funding for The program was drawn from the $120,000 Art in the Time of COVID fund established by ArtsNL to help the Newfoundland and Labrador arts community during the COVID-19 crisis

Artist Talk: Jessica McDonald & Alex Antle

VANL-CARFAC is pleased to present the first of two instalments of artist talks by the participants in our 2020-21 Mentorship Program.  Please join us via Zoom on June 17th at 8pm, where Jessica McDonald and Alex Antle will discuss their their work, their practices, and their experiences with the mentorship program.  Please click here to sign up via Eventbrite. A link to join will be sent prior to the event.

Jessica McDonald is a Textile Artist residing in St. John’s, NL. With a BFA in Interdisciplinary Studies from NSCAD University, she brings traditional craft to light through education, contemporary explorations, and process documentation. Jessica is passionate about community created through the act of making and the history in which it carries. 

Alex Antle (she/her) is an emerging L’nu beadwork artist located in Elmastukwek, Ktaqmkuk (Bay of Islands, Newfoundland). She has been learning and practicing beadwork for 4 years with the guidance of a community of Mi’kmaq beaders.  Alex’s art often explores the relationship between tradition and modern Mi’kmaq people. She is interested in living culture and the evolution of Mi’kmaq culture as well as the importance of the land and water. Alex has exhibited her work in galleries across Newfoundland and Labrador, participated in art festivals, and frequently shares her skill through beading workshops. 

The VANL-CARFAC Mentorship Program was created to provide opportunities for productive and supportive relationships between established professional artists and artists wishing to develop and enhance their practice. The mentors provide one on one encouragement, advice, information and resources to mentees, who are aiming to achieve specific professional goals. Funding for The program was drawn from the $120,000 Art in the Time of COVID fund established by ArtsNL to help the Newfoundland and Labrador arts community during the COVID-19 crisis

© VANL-CARFAC 2015