2022 AWARD WINNERS
-
RUTH WICKREMESOORIYA
FIRST PRIZE | Multidisciplinary Artist
Award Donor: RANDY BROWN, Founder, Cabbagetown Art & Craft Show
Weaving value into waste
I see the potential for repair and healing at every level of making. I choose to use discarded textiles as my primary medium, believing that in recreating them into something beautiful, I can demonstrate an inherent value within them that is worth being treasured. I draw inspiration from objects in my life that have broken, choosing to abstract pattern from their wounds to show that being broken is not the end of the story. And I bring myself, a flawed human being, to the process, as a declaration that I don’t have to be perfect in order to bring forth something of meaning and beauty. Ruth Wickremesooriya
-
CELINA KANG
SECOND PRIZE | Ceramic Artist
Award Donor: MARY MARTIN, Member, Cabbagetown Art & Craft Show
Inspired by nature
Ever since my university degree in ceramics in the early 2000s, the medium has become my life-time passion, philosophy and best friend. My work has been inspired by nature, especially stone, sand, clay — all sorts of mineral forms from the earth. In my work, the mineral particles show their natural earthy textures. I emphasize bare skins and simple shapes to show the fundamental beauty of the minerals. In recent years, I have developed a new project, named Paleo, to express rougher and richer textures in more organic shapes, and developed hand pinching and slap techniques to suggest the raw and ancient textures of the Paleolithic Stone Age. In this practice, I am getting closer to my vision of natural stone textures, which am https://www.celinakstudio.com/excited to share with you. Celina Kang
-
DANIELLE JONES & JAMES LAISH
THIRD PRIZE | Wood & Mixed Media Artists
Award Donor: MARY MARTIN, Member, Cabbagetown Art & Craft Show
Modern, minimalist with a touch of whimsy
Inspired by shared passions for architecture, design and craft, we create original art objects using sustainable and reclaimed woods. Our collections blend the clean and minimalist lines of mid-20th century modernism with rustic sensibilities to create heirloom quality, contemporary Canadiana. We’re multidisciplinary artist-designers and OCAD graduates, handcrafting our original designs in small editions with meticulous attention to detail, materiality, and craftsmanship. Having worked together at close-range throughout our independent yet parallel careers, our collaborative and creative partnership as Modernist Wood combines our individual skills with our desire to break new artistic ground. Danielle Jones & James Laish
-
SANDRA TARANTINO
SPECIAL MEMBER’S AWARD | Ceramic Artist
Award Donor: Susan V. Corrigan, Member, Cabbagetown Art & Craft Show
Release, liberation and nurturing
My Catharsis Series features sculptural wall installations of birds and nest-like forms, where birds seemingly come out of the wall flying in various directions. Cast shadows play on walls, creating changing movement. A graduate of OCAD, I'm a member of AWOL Collective, co-directed AWOL Gallery and Studios (1996-2012) and C1 art space (2004-2011). I recently opened a new Toronto project space and clay studio, ArtQuarters Gallery, where I teach classes and work on my pieces. Sandra Tarantino
-
NADIA GURKOVA
SPECIAL MEMBER’S AWARD | Oil Painter
Award Donor: Virginia Hamara, Member, Cabbagetown Art & Craft Show
A landscape in oils
I travel all summer to research Ontario’s landscape and paint studies on location. In winter I work with the gathered material to dive deeper and develop larger works and series. Each series is created on canvas using traditional oil painting techniques. My work has been exhibited in solo and esteemed juried shows in Toronto. I’m an elected member of the Ontario Society of Artists and Colour and Form Society. Nadia Gurkova
-
OWEN GILBART
SPECIAL MEMBER’S AWARD | Sculptor/Fabricator
Award Donor: Wendy Shingler, Member, Cabbagetown Art & Craft Show
A carver of unnatural materials
I’ve been a sculptor working out of my workshop studio in Peterborough Ontario since 2013. I initially trained as a welder before attending art school on the East Coast and Amsterdam. My work combines industrially produced goods with intricately hand cut patterns. These discarded artifacts of the last century are re imagined as an unnatural resource to work with and carve into. The patterns I choose often reference the life and work of William Morris and the Arts and Crafts Movement. I believe in the power and autonomy of Craft, decentralized and accessible. Owen Gilbart
-
DIANA WATTERS
CAROLYN MCINTIRE SMYTH AWARD | Cross Stitcher
Award Donor: Carolyn Mcintire Smith, chestnutpark.com
Creating something of my own
As a professionally trained interior designer, I design metal art pieces . My ‘5-9 job’ is the wonderful world of cross-stitching. I longed for the satisfaction of using my hands to create something of my own. But I couldn't always find the modern content I was looking for. Making my own patterns has been great, inspired by ethnic textiles, graffiti, travelling, nature. Diana Watters
-
JEN MANUELL
RICHARD SILVER AWARD | Fibre/Textile Artist
Award Donor: Richard Silver, sothebysrealty.ca
Colour, pattern and texture
Born into a long line of talented artisans and craftspeople, I’ve been making art and playing with colour, pattern and texture for as long as I can remember. My signature practice combines my love of textiles, hand-dyed wool and patchwork to create unique home goods that are a modern twist on a time-honoured tradition. “Each piece is made one-at-a-time and one-of-a-kind in my home studio. Jen Manuell
-
MIKA SATO
PATTIE WALKER MEMORIAL AWARD | Botanical Ceramicist
Award Donor: Meg Best, Longtime Cabbagetown Art & Craft Show Volunteer
An extraordinary natural experience
I was born in Hiroshima, Japan, and grew up surrounded by the bounty of nature that both nurtured and inspired me. I’m a potter and floral designer. I use botanical elements to add life to a living space on my unique pottery vessels in a contemporary style that is both pleasing to the eye and fun. Mika Sato
-
NICK SIANCHUK & KEVIN YIP
MONTCREST SCHOOL AWARD | Clay Sculptors
Award Donor: Montcrest School montcrest.on.ca
Tiny, cute demons
Nick and Kevin like to exorcise their inner demons in a three-dimensional format, then sell them to the public. Luckily for all, their demons are tiny, cute and numerous! They've been at it since 2006.