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Some used oil, while others chose acrylic and chalk pastel. Some artists worked with lithography or took photographs. The national winner developed a computer program to create his art. Despite their different creative approaches, these talented students have one thing in common. They have all been chosen as the best graduating artists in Canada by the BMO 1st Art! Invitational Student Art Competition.
As the only national graduating artist competition, BMO 1st Art! is a celebration of the artistic excellence and diversity of Canadian art students and gives recognition to the work of student artists chosen from more than 100 post secondary institutions across Canada. Deans and instructors of studio art programs were invited to select three students from their undergraduate level graduating classes, whose ability and imagination placed them first among their peers. The students’ entries were then adjudicated by a distinguished selection committee.
2005 BMO 1st Art! national winner:
Tomas Svab, Vancouver, BC; Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design
Regional winners:
Kyle Dickau, Richmond, BC; University of British Columbia
Jason Mosher, Strathmore, AB; University of Lethbridge
Jason Thiry, Regina, SK; University of Regina
Maegan Hill-Carroll, Winnipeg, MB; University of Manitoba
Laura Mills, Markham, ON; Ontario College of Art & Design
Pierre-Yves Girard, Montreal, QC; Université du Québec à Montréal
Sonia Simard, St.-Thomas-de-Kent, NB; Universite de Moncton
Beth Letain, Halifax, NS; Nova Scotia College of Art and Design
Ellery Richardson, Charlottetown, PEI; Holland College
Darren Whalen, St. John’s NL; Memorial University of Newfoundland
Pootoogook Noah, Iqualit, Nunavit; Nunavut Arctic College
Jesse Wolfe, Teslin YK; Klondike Institute of Arts and Culture
“Nothing is more exciting than being exposed to the next wave of Canadian artists just as they are embarking on their professional practice,” said Dawn Cain, BMO Financial Group Curator. “I believe that many of the winners in this year’s 1st Art! are going to be the artists to watch in the near future, and we are thrilled to be introducing them to a wider audience at this crucial time in their careers.”
The national winner receives $2,500 and regional winners each receive $1,000 for their submission. The winning artwork will be displayed in BMO offices from coast-to-coast, joining a distinguished corporate art collection that includes the work of well-known historical and contemporary Canadian masters such as Kenojuak Ashevak, Emily Carr, Tom Forestall, Marc-Aurèle Fortin, Lawren Harris, and many others.
“At BMO Financial Group we believe a strong and vital cultural life is part of a truly healthy community. One way we contribute to this is by fostering young and emerging artists through BMO 1st Art,” said Gilles Ouellette, President & CEO, Private Client Group, BMO Financial Group and Deputy Chair, BMO Nesbitt Burns. “Shining the spotlight on outstanding graduating students gives them the early recognition they deserve and it’s also a wonderful way for us to celebrate the incredible artistic talent within Canada.”
Mr. Ouellette and Ms. Cain served as BMO 1st Art! selection committee members along with Melanie O’Brian, Director/Curator, Artspeak; Marshall Webb, Upper Canada College teacher and contemporary art advisor; Joanne Tod, international artist and lecturer; and Michel Viau, President, Ove Design and Communications Ltd.
The BMO 1st Art! winners' work will be on display in the First Canadian Place Gallery in Toronto from September 27 to October 14, 2005. The 13 winning pieces can also be viewed on BMO Financial Group’s website at: http://www2.bmo.com/content/0,1263,divId-7_langId-1_navCode-4094,00.html.
Since 1817, BMO Financial Group has believed in community reinvestment and corporate and social responsibility to the communities it serves. BMO Financial Group contributed more than $29 million in corporate donations, sponsorships and events in 2004, supporting thousands of communities, charities and not-for-profit organizations in Canada. In 2005, BMO was named Best Corporate Citizen of the Year in Canada by Corporate Knights magazine.
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