Article appeared in the May 26 issue of the Interlake Spectator…
Interlake Juried Art Show
Hundreds of people milled around the upper level of the Gimli Recreation Centre on May 20 and 21, where more than 200 works of art were being judged during the annual Interlake Juried Arts show, held at a different location each year. In all, nearly 100 artists submitted work. Several won more than one award.
It was a big event, attended by artists, art-lovers, art-judges, representatives from arts groups, and politicians. Thirty ribbons were awarded to works of art in each of 10 categories, in addition to numerous honourable mentions.
“The judges,” said Olive Hnatiuk, co-ordinator of the show, “thought this was a superlative show. They thought this was one of the best shows they’ve seen in a long time.”
Gimli MLA, Peter Bjornson , said the show “captured the spirit of the community”, in his address to the gathering. Gimli’s Mayor, Lynn Greenberg, also had high praises:
“The Gimli art community is alive and well, and so is the whole Interlake, as we see. Anyone who didn’t come really missed something..You made Gimli proud,” Greenberg said to the artists and organizers.
Tim Schouten, artist and teacher from the Manitoba Arts Network, said he was “blown away by the quality”. He invited all of the winners to submit their work to the Rural and Northern Art Show, which exhibits art in Winnipeg each year from six regional art shows held in rural Manitoba,
By all accounts, the talents of Interlake artists are second to none, and the variety represented at the show, truly inspiring.
Judith Flynn, Chair of the Manitoba Arts Council assisted Hnatiuk in congratulating artists individually, and in handing out ribbons at the award ceremony that took place on May 21.
“You are really an enthusiastic artist community…I want to offer my congratulations,” Flynn said.
Marilyn Folson won “Best in Show” and first prize in the Acrylic Paintings category, with her work, entitled ‘Success Story’. Originally a still painting in red, she overlaid the canvas with images of her parents’ bowling trophies, thereby creating a visual narrative.
Folson has been focussing on painting this past year, after having worked in sculpture in prior years. She submitted three paintings and one sculpture in the show. She proudly accepted an additional prize, having placed second in the Three Dimensional Art category as well.
Other first prize winners include, June Valgardson in Oil Painting, Madeline Barg in Pastels, Clay Bakkum in Photography/Digital Media, Dave McNabb in Drawing, Laurie Potovsky-Beachell in Experimental, Lorraine MacVicar in Watercolours, Willy Carleton in Fibre Art, Gordon Kanne in Three Dimensional, and Mabel Tinguely in Mixed Media.
Kanne’s three dimensional work was a carving of a mating ball of Red Sided Garter Snakes. The carving took 450 hours to complete, and had a price tag of $6,000.
The artist, themselves, were just as blown away by the calibre of work displayed by their peers.
“It was an excellent show. It was tremendous. It’s the best I’ve seen,” said Tinguely, who submitted three pieces, and won first and third place in the Mixed Media Category. The Gimli artist also won in a previous Interlake Juried Art Show two years ago in East St. Paul.
This year’s judges were Melanie Rocan, Keith Berens, and Gail Fisher, all accomplished artists in their own right. Overall, they said the show was “lively”, “progressive”, and “sophisticated”.
