News Releases
TORONTO, AUG. 14, 2008 – BMO Financial Group today announced one national and 13 regional winners of the only national graduating artist competition in Canada, the BMO 1st Art! Invitational Student Art Competition.
The remarkable works of art produced by the 2008 winners cover a range of themes in a variety of mediums including:
- A photograph illustrating the human ambition for flight;
- An abstract oil painting representing the congestion of urban development;
- A digital print questioning the struggle of living up to an unattainable standard;
- A mitten and hat set celebrating modern aboriginal heritage through traditional clothing.
The competition received 162 entries from every province and territory across Canada, a testament to the prestige and esteem of the BMO 1st Art! awards. The winning works showcase the diverse influences and artistic visions of this country, with each piece reflecting the unique nature of the artists and the communities in which they live and study.
BMO 1st Art! Invitational Student Art Competition is a celebration of the creative excellence of art students from post-secondary institutions across Canada. Deans and instructors of undergraduate certificate, diploma, and degree programs in visual art are invited to select three students from their graduating classes whose ability and imagination place them first among their peers. A distinguished panel of judges chooses an overall national winner and one winner from each province and territory
.2008 Winners
BMO 1st Art! 2008 National Winner:
Jeremy Jeresky, Alberta College of Art & Design
BMO 1st Art! 2008 Regional Winners:
| Alberta | – Penny Chase, Alberta College of Art & Design |
| British Columbia | – Alistair Rance, University of British Columbia, Okanagan |
| Manitoba | – Maria Baker, University of Manitoba |
| New Brunswick | – Cheryl Ryan, New Brunswick College of Craft & Design |
| Newfoundland | – Stephanie
Power, Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, Memorial University |
| Northwest Territories | – Ruth Wright, Aurora College |
| Nova Scotia | – Thomas Chisholm, Nova Scotia College of Art & Design |
| Nunavut | – Jamasee Pitseolak, Nunavut Arctic College |
| Ontario | – Devin Jeffrey, Ryerson University |
| Prince Edward Island | – Stephanie Martens, Holland College |
| Quebec | – Keren Epstein, Concordia University |
| Saskatchewan | – Rowan Pantel, University of Saskatchewan |
| Yukon Territory | – Mitch Holder, Klondike Institute of Arts & Culture |
The national winner receives $5,000 and the regional winners each receive $2,500 for his or her artwork. The national winner's artwork will become part of the BMO Corporate Art Collection, which includes historical and contemporary Canadian masters such as Kenojuak Ashevak, Emily Carr, Paterson Ewen, Marc-Aur�le Fortin, Lawren Harris, Ian Wallace and many others.
“The winning 1st Art! submissions provide a glimpse into the studios of art schools across the country that few outsiders see,” said Dawn Cain, Curator, BMO Financial Group, Corporate Art Collection. “It's clear that there is a lot of exciting work being produced in our cegeps, colleges and universities - we are delighted to celebrate the accomplishments of these exceptional artists.”
“Year after year, I am amazed at the superb calibre of talent and creativity of Canada's new artists," said Gilles Ouellette, President and CEO, Private Client Group, BMO Financial Group, and Deputy Chair, BMO Nesbitt Burns. “By acknowledging these outstanding graduating students, it is our hope that BMO 1st Art! can give our 2008 winners the motivation to continue their artistic careers, and in doing so, find their place in Canada's dynamic artistic community.”
Mr. Ouellette and Ms. Cain served as selection committee members for the 6th annual BMO 1st Art! Competition, along with art luminaries Camilla Singh, Curator, Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art; Landon Mackenzie, Artist; Gary Michael Dault, Arts Critic; and Steve Loft, Curator in Residence, Indigenous Art, National Gallery of Canada.
Representing the
best of Canada's newest generation of artists, all of the BMO 1st Art!
winners' works will be on display at the Museum
of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA) 952 Queen Street West in Toronto
from October 7 to 26, 2008. The winning pieces can also be viewed on
BMO Financial Group's website at:
www2.bmo.com/bmo/files/images/7/1/BMOfirstArt.html
Since 1817, BMO Financial Group has believed in community reinvestment and corporate and social responsibility to the communities it serves. BMO contributes millions of dollars each year in corporate donations, sponsorships and events, supporting thousands of communities, charities and not-for-profit organizations in Canada. In 2006, BMO was the recipient of a Globe and Mail Business for the Arts Award, which recognizes “outstanding partnerships between business and the arts” and in 2005, BMO was named Best Corporate Citizen of the Year in Canada by Corporate Knights magazine.
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