The Visual Arts Centre’s latest show, Mountains, opened in conjunction with two other exhibitions — the North Columbia Environmental Society’s Photo Contest finalists and the Best of Banff’s touring Mountain Photography Show — Friday with a packed house. And what a study in contrasts they were.
The two local exhibitions were bright, innovative and exciting while the Banff Centre’s touring exhibition seemed somewhat tired. There were few images in that exhibition that seemed fresh, new and exciting, unlike the NCES’s photo contest finalists’s exhibition.
The NCES exhibition showed the works of all the finalists. And win or lose they are all quite impressive, especially when you consider that some of them were taken by children under 12. Local photographer Jason Keerak, who judged the contest along with Jim Maitre and Rob Buchanan (himself no slouch with a camera) said in the preamble to his announcement of the winners that “there was plenty of discussion but, fortunately, no fisticuffs” as the judges determined the winners. And you can see why the judges really took their time and made thoughtful selections.
Images of the official winners are below, but the judging isn’t over! You can vote for the People’s Choice when you go to The Centre to see the NCES photo contest show.
And the Visual Arts’s Centre’s Mountains show offered patrons a lively and deft mix of photography, painting, ceramic and fabric art. More than 210 people attended the opening.
Here are a few scenes and images, including all of the NCES contest winners, from the opening:
Mount Begbie in Bloom, by new artist Chloe Kim was an eye-popping multi-media work. David F. Rooney photoSandra Flood's ceramic Leaverite Series was the first piece snapped up by a certain art lover at the show. David F. Rooney photoBarb Little (left) and Cat Mather examine one of the images in the Best of the Banff Mountain Photography Competition. David F. Rooney photoThis youngster was mesmerized by Suzanne Spisani's display of silver rings. David F. Rooney photoExhibition patrons shmooze at the opening. David F. Rooney photoJason Keerak prepares to announce the winners of the NCES' photo contest as contest organizer Hayley Johnson stands ready to his side. David F. Rooney photoLauren Dieleman's black and white photo of the city, In Between Fall and Winter, won first prize for 13-to-17-year-olds in the Spirit of Revelstoke category.Alexandra Luxmoore's amusing Igloo was the best work by a child under 12 in the Spirit of Revelstoke category.Charles Provencher's image, Teaching His Son a New Jump: a family activity in Revelstoke, was the best image by an adult in the Spirit of Revelstoke category.Debbie Koerber's Unicyclists was the best work by an adult in the Alternative Route Category.Daniel Blackie's photo, My Mom Goes Downhill, was the best image by a child under 12 in the Alternative Route Category.Tayla Koerber's Sunflower was the best work by a child in the Creative Images of Nature Category.Delyth Harper's image, Mount Begbie Glacier: overnight camping trip August 2009, was the best work by a 13-to-17 year old in the Creative Images of Nature Category.Mike Vopni's image, Grasses in the Columbia, was the best adult work in the Creative Images of Nature category.
