The fortieth annual Open Sky – Peace Liard Regional Art Exhibition opened in the basement of the Visitor Information Centre on Friday, May 6.
The event is being organized by the Peace Liard Regional Arts Council and the Tumbler Ridge Community Arts Council and Hosted by the Tumbler Ridge Global Geopark Society.
The opening gala saw dozens of folks from around town and around the region milling about the Visitor Centre, looking at the many paintings, photographs and other artworks that are a part of the show.
In total, there are 104 pieces, submitted by 46 artists from across Northeastern BC, including many local artists.
Jurors Cara Guri and Lynette La Fontaine picked out their favourite pieces before the show started, and Haley Bassett, Peace Liard Regional Arts Council Executive Director announced the winners during the opening on Friday.
Distinguished Awards winners are awarded $600 each and will be featured in the PLRAC’s 2023 Calendar. Winners included: in the Representational category, Modest, by Samantha Wigglesworth out of Fort St John. In the Three-Dimensional category, Fort St. John artist Eliza Massey-Stanford won for her piece, Beach Rocks. In the Conceptual category, Under Consideration by Dawson Creek artist (and president of the Peace Liard Regional Arts Council) Kit Fast. In the Photography category, Fort Nelson Photographer won for her piece, In Flight.
Crystal Behn from Prince George won the Tony Onley Artists’ Project Scholarship for her piece, Our Trauma Bond. This is an intensive artist residency held each summer in Wells, BC, and guided by world-class mentors. This year’s mentors are painter Landon Mackenzie and multidisciplinary artist Michael Belmore.
Chosen Winners were:
- Flicker of Diamonds, Ken Forest, Charlie Lake
- Titan Explorer, Don Pettit, Dawson Creek
- Stony Lake Shimmer, Alex Landon Richardson, Chetwynd
- I’ll Have What She’s Having, Donna Bozarth, Fort St John
- ē-kī-āhkwatic ōtehimin, Adrienne Greyeyes, Fort St John
- The Shack, Kim Ans, Fort St John
- Sown By Nature, Kathie Young, Grande Prairie
- Atlin Lake 7 – Confluence, Frances Obie, Fort St John
- Little Bee, Caily Oldershaw, Dawson Creek
Finally, in the Honourable Mention Category were:
- Friendship, Margaret Mabius, Chetwynd
- Trick of the Light, Wayne Sawchuk, Rolla
- Bergeron Through the Looking Glass, Tiffany Hetenyi, Taylor
- Pulse, Payge Fortier, Dawson Creek
- January Sunrise, Lorri Langevin, Pouce Coupe
- It’s Okay…but it’s not Okay, Margaret May, Fort St John
- Abandoned Native Cabin Teslin Lake, Yukon, Joseph Johnston, Charlie Lake
- Grizzly Bear, Thunderbird, Sun Chief Totem, Curtis Dickie, Fort Nelson
- Blue Shadows, Red Fox, Gary Lowe, Dawson Creek
- Balance, Carol Liu, Tumbler Ridge
Now that the show is open, members of the public are encouraged to cast their vote for the People’s Choice Award. You can do so online at https://opensky.peaceliardarts.org/. Voting is open until May 30. Artist Alex Landon Richardson is the Artist in Resident; she will be working in a pop-up studio during the first week of the show. Visitors can stop by and ask questions and watch her work.
The show is open from 10-4 seven days a week, and is located downstairs at the Tumbler Ridge Visitor Information Centre.
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.