Saturday August 3, 2024 | SOOKE, BC [Updated August 12, 2024]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Art supporters from around the community filled the seats at the Sooke Fine Arts Show (SFAS) Artists Celebration event on Friday evening, August 2.
And people also paused in the exhibit area to watch the awards being presented.
Considered the wrap-up feature event of the show, the Artists Celebration is about acknowledging artists on stage, with certificates awarded by sponsors and members of the SFAS board and executive. Beverages and tasty hors d’oeuvres are free.
Folks of all ages attended, from youth to elderly.
Show timing ahead of BC Day long weekend:
The awards recognition event is by invitation only.
While of key importance to the artists, the awards evening generally does not enjoy the same super-size crowd that the Purchaser’s Preview evening does each year on the night ahead of the 10-day show.
Most of the Sooke Fine Arts Show sponsors have been supporting the annual 10-day show for many years.
The awards evening is an opportunity for sponsors to be recognized for their commitment to the arts and the efforts of local volunteers.
But the usual date for the show is near the BC Day long weekend which probably results in the no-show by a lot of sponsors on the actual presentation evening.
Celebrating artists:
Every one of the 375+ artworks chosen by the jurors, to be included in the 2024 show are worthy of celebration — they’re in the gallery on display!
But featured in the catalog are the ones singled out for special recognition.
This year’s show had a lot of detailed pieces and definition with black, as if the artists are reflecting the quiet rebuilding of persons and society followed the emotional and social challenges of the pandemic. Show pieces are adjudicated and selected by three jurors, this year by: Katie Belcher, Steven McNeil, and Dominik Modlinski.
“Through these awards, community and sponsors recognize the creativity and commitment of visual artists to interpret the moods and challenges of our times through their art, just as writers do through the written word,” as noted by Island Social Trends publisher Mary P Brooke in her speech as a sponsor, on stage last night.
Youth art:
Youth often have a keen eye as to what’s going on in the world around them. The importance of supporting youth in the art world was emphasized by Dr Chris Bryant in his speech on stage.
The Youth Art Distinction Award went to Tatianna Davidson for “Innocence”, sponsored by Dr Chris Bryant & Staff.
Dr Bryant thanked the show “for having the bravery to allow youth to express themselves”.
“All the artists on this side were at one time youth themselves,” said Bryant, gesturing to the main gallery exhibit beyond.
The Inspiration Award went to Janelle Brodrick for “Growth”, sponsored by Sooke Arts Council.
Youth Art Gallery Juror Recognition was awarded to:
- “Down the Road” – by Nolan Wiltse [Sponsored by West Coast Grill]
- “Chemtrails” – by Arina Shvedenko [Sponsored by Croy & Co Stage Lighting Ltd]
- “You found me” – by Biborka Balog [Sponsored by Yvonne Cabot]
One of the youth art pieces will be used to promote the 2025 show, said Terrie Moore, Executive Director, Sooke Fine Arts Show.
Most of the art in the Youth Gallery is by students from the three main high schools in Sooke School District 62 (SD62): Edward Milne Community School (Sooke), Royal Bay Secondary School (Colwood), and Belmont Secondary School (Langford).
Award of Excellence
- “ka mawiya – a gift which we are given” – by Kristi Bridgeman [Sponsored by Butler Concrete & Aggregate Ltd]
- “After the Clearcut” – by Trish Shwart [Sponsored by Keycorp Consulting Ltd]
- “A Precarious Balance” – by Ken Guenter [Sponsored by CHEK Media]
- “I Know I am” – by Amanda Walker [Sponsored by Seacliff Properties (Sooke) Ltd]
- “The Turning” – by William Hibberd [Sponsored by SEAPARC Recreation Centre / CRD]
- “Transcendence at the Beach” – by Sarah Boileau [Sponsored by the Times Colonist]
- “Figured Bench” – by Michael Ferguson [Sponsored by Tom Lee Music Co Ltd]
- “Milk on the Rocks” – by Murray Sharratt [Sponsored by Air North, Yukon’s Airline]
Juror’s Choice
- “Concerto” – by Susan Underwood [Sponsored by Marsden Group]
- “Mango the flamingo” – by Raj Deepak S N [Sponsored by Island Social Trends]
- “Florence” – by Chadwick Johnston [Sponsored by Point No Point Resort]
District of Sooke Award
- “Return to the Sea Spring Tide Pool in the Pacific Northwest” – by Sherry Robb [Sponsored by the District of Sooke]
Jan Johnson Memorial Award for Social Commentary
- “Dendrochronological Blues” – by Pamela Plumb [Sponsored by Mary Alice Johnson & the Jan Johnson Memorial Fund]
Honourable Mention
- Exodus to Europa 25 – by April Winter [Sponsored by Prestige Oceanfront Resort]
- “Swans” – by Clement Kwan [Sponsored by RE/MAX Victoria]
- “Oceans” – by Janet Bartz [Sponsored by Sooke Home Hardware]
- “Measure Twice Cut Once’ – by Beth MacLeod [Sponsored by Sooke News Mirror]
- “A Man of the World” – by Brad Scromeda [Sponsored by Clarkston Construction Ltd]
Honourable Mention:
- “Grand Hotel” – by Ella Rouleau [Sponsored by West Coast Super-Storage]
- “Intricate Reflection” – by Gurleen Kaur [Sponsored by Tammi Dimock Personal Real Estate]
People’s Choice:
People’s Choice awards for the main gallery and for youth, as well as the Children’s Choice Award, are named after the show, based on the ballots submitted by show attendees.
VIPs at the show:
VIPs who attended included Langford-Juan de Fuca MLA Ravi Parmar and District of Sooke Mayor Maja Tait.
Mayor Tait called it “a proud mayor moment” to be there on behalf of council to help support the Sooke Fine Art Show. “It’s the character of Sooke to come together when it matters,” said Tait regarding the impact of the recent Old Man Lake wildfire in the Sooke region.
Tait remarked that the annual Sooke Fine Art Show has “had a profound impact throughout our community”. She itemized that art is now on display around town and on parks and trails, an influence due to the annual art show. She noted there will soon be a mural unveiling at the VOSINO cafe. She remarked — as do many speakers — on the transformation of the SEAPARC Recreation Centre into a beautiful gallery for the 10-day show which she says showcases “the talent and wisdom” of the community. She thanked visitors for coming to Sooke.
Politics of the moment:
There was a moment of political poignance in that … Parmar will be running in Langford-Highlands in the upcoming provincial election this fall (a riding that does not include Sooke) and Tait will soon be running in the next federal election (or even by-election) in Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke (thereby shifting her political scope from local to federal).
Parmar commented on the impact of wildfires this summer but noting that people showed up for the Sooke Fine Arts Show regardless. He commended the work of the BC Wildfire Service. He noted the importance of the Friday evening event for artists and acknowledged the work of organizers and volunteers.
District of Sooke Councillors Jeff Bateman, Al Beddows, Dana LaJeunesse and Tony St-Pierre attended the evening event. LaJeunesse is now the BC NDP candidate for Juan de Fuca-Malahat in the upcoming provincial election in October.
This year District of Metchosin Mayor Marie-Térèse Little also attended the artists celebration. Metchosin is included in the new provincial riding boundaries for Juan de Fuca-Malahat.
Representatives from companies who been sponsors over many years attended, such as Keycorp Consulting Ltd and Butler Concrete & Aggregate Ltd.
===== RELATED:
- Gift shop has ‘sparkle’ at Sooke Fine Arts Show (July 31, 2024)
- The exhibit experience at Sooke Fine Arts Show 2024 (July 27, 2024)
- Sooke Fine Arts Show purchaser’s preview on July 26 (July 26, 2024)
- Dozens of sponsors for Sooke Fine Arts Show 2024 (June 30, 2024)
- Sooke Fine Art show exhibit assembly takes 3 weeks (June 28, 2024)
===== ABOUT ISLAND SOCIAL TRENDS:
Island Social Trends has been a proud sponsor of the Sooke Fine Arts Shows every year since 2017. Editor and publisher is Mary P Brooke.
Island Social Trends emerged from the previous weekly West Shore Voice News (2014-2020) that had emerged from the previous weekly Sooke Voice News (2011-2013).
Island Social Trends publishes regional and provincial news daily at IslandSocialTrends.ca as well as biweekly community print edition (PDF by email available to Premium subscribers).