Ramona Barkhouse, Nunavut Arctic College, student wins art prize
'I still can't believe that it really happened. I'm just kind of like, me, little old me'
A student from Nunavut Arctic College has won the art prize at the annual BMO Financial Group's Art! Invitational Student Art Competition.
Barkhouse says being selected among artists from this territory means a great deal to her.
"It's an honour to be recognized and Nunavut has so many artists from there with so much talent... to be recognized amongst them, I couldn't ask for better."
Barkhouse submitted her graduation project for the competition, a necklace she calls 'Flight of the Peacock.' It's made from Sterling silver,14-karat gold, and labradorite stone. She says her artistic style is inspired by elements in nature, such as animals and plants.
As the territorial winner, Barkhouse is awarded $5,000. She says she's going to save most of the money, but she's also going to spend some of it on a new dress to wear to the opening of the art show in Toronto this October.
All of the winners' works will be on display at the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery, at the University of Toronto from October 22 to December 18, 2015.
The other winner from the North is Yukon's Jon Iñaki Etxeberria Vanneste from the Yukon School of Visual Arts. The national winner is Tamara Himmelspach from the Alberta College of Art & Design.
The 13th annual BMO 1st Art! Invitational Student Art Competition, recognizes visual arts excellence in post-secondary institutions from across Canada. The national winner and 12 regional winners were selected from 263 entries, one of the highest submission numbers since the competition started in 2003.
The nominees represent more than 100 Canadian colleges and universities and are selected by their school faculty and administration. A panel of judges chose an overall national winner and one winner from each eligible province and territory.