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Meet the finalists for the NLAC 2010 Emerging Artist Award!

The Emerging Artist Award recognizes new and undisputed talent. It is awarded to an emerging artist, group, or arts organization that has earned significant recognition for a piece of work or a generally out-sized impact on the scene.

The finalists for the 2010 Emerging Artist Award are:

Jordan Bennett – visual artist (Corner Brook)
Jordan Canning – filmmaker (St. John’s)
Billy Gauthier – sculptor/carver (North West River)

The winner, along with the winners in all other award categories, will be announced at the Arts Awards Show and Gala: Saturday, April 30, 2011 at the Reid Theatre in St. John’s.

Jordan Bennett

Jordan Bennett is a multi-disciplinary visual artist of Mi’kmaq decent from the province’s west coast. He works in a variety of diverse media which often incorporate traditional aboriginal craft, new media, and performance.

Through the processes of sculpture, digital media, text based media, installation, painting, endurance performance, and various others, he strives to push boundaries and challenge stereotypes and assumptions about aboriginal issues and contemporary culture.

His work has been featured in a variety of publications including the world wide published Skateboard/Lifestyle magazine COLOR. An avid skateboarder, Jordan reconfigures skateboards into works of art.

In 2010 his work was shown in five curated group exhibitions in Toronto, Winnipeg and Banff. This year he has been one of four artists selected for an Aboriginal Performance Arts Series at Modern Fuel Artist Run Centre in Kingston, Ontario; and this September he will take part in a group exhibition at the Ottawa Art Gallery.

In the summer of 2012 he will be having his first solo exhibition at Alternator Gallery in Kelowna, B.C.

To see more of Jordan’s work visit: http://www.jordanbennett.ca

Q and A with Jordan Bennett...

When/how did you get bitten with the artist bug?

Jordan B: I would have to say that I got bitten with the artist bug at a young age. I always kept a sketchbook, and my mother still has them all, they date back to when I was 4. My older cousin Clyde used to do these amazing drawings for me, and I would save my money and pay him $5 for each one, they covered the walls of my bedroom, I always tried to copy his drawings. When I was really young I was always keen on sending my drawings into the Newfoundland Herald, haha.

When did you realize art would be a career for you? How do you make that work?

Jordan B: I realized art was going to be a career for me when I was visiting Europe while in University doing my BFA (at Memorial University’s Grenfell Campus). I had gone into my BFA and thought I wanted to teach kids, but while in Europe I got a chance to see so many artworks that I had only read about, it was very overwhelming and eye opening. I have been making it work by producing art on a regular basis; a lot of my work gets shown in group exhibitions. I have been very fortunate to meet so many amazing artists and curators that have helped me and put me onto shows and residencies.

What has been your biggest “out-sized impact on the scene” that you’ve been most proud of?

Jordan B: I have had a variety of experiences that I feel proud of and have caused an impact for my career, but I would have to say that my biggest “out-sized impact on the scene” would be with my artwork “Sovereignty”. It was a performance piece that I did in Corner Brook two summers ago. The piece involved me setting up a tee pee of paper in downtown Corner Brook and proceeding to write the Indian act of 1876 on it. The piece created a great deal of controversy afterwards in the form of Internet comments, even making the front page of the local paper. Since completing the piece it has been recognized by a variety of artists and curators and the work is slotted to be in a new group show titled “De-Colonize me” this upcoming September at the Ottawa Art Gallery, created by fellow Newfoundlander, Heather Igloliorte. It has also been selected to be featured on the University of British Columbia’s First Nations Studies Program website as a featured artwork. The work was my first performance art work and since I have performed in different venues, just recently in Kingston, Ontario at Modern Fuel Artist Run Centre.

Who would play you in the movie of your life?

Jordan B: Wow, that’s a tough one… I’m going to have to go with Ice Cube… Not Cube as in “Are we there yet” but Cube in “Boyz N the Hood”… or “Friday” yeah Cube in Friday Haha.

What artist has made an impact on your career?

Jordan B: There have been so many artists that have made an impact on my career, but one in particular would have to be Brian Jungen, I was influenced by Brian’s work while in my undergrad. I bought a catalogue for his show in England, and even tried to sneak into the private opening for his show at the Tate Modern. Since then our paths have crossed multiple times and I even worked with him on a project this past October. It’s pretty amazing when you get to meet someone that has influenced you so much, and then become a friend.

Jordan Canning

Over the last six years Jordan Canning has directed more than a dozen short films and music videos.

Recent films include The House Series – a trilogy of shorts (Bedroom, Kitchen and Bathroom), produced with no budget, which she conceived of and wrote with writer/composer, Jody Richardson. Kitchen won Best Newfoundland Film and Best Performance at the Nickel Independent Film Festival, and Bedroom won Best Atlantic Short at the Atlantic Film Festival.

Her 2008 film Countdown screened at festivals all over the world, and placed second internationally out of over 1400 films submitted to the NFB Cannes Short Film Competition.

In 2010 she produced and directed the ECMA-nominated music video ‘Best Served’ for the Pathological Lovers, and a few months later, made her first foray into stop-motion animation with Not Over Easy – a dark comedy about a couple of dysfunctional eggs.

Currently, she is developing a number of feature films, including an adaptation of Jessica Grant’s award-winning novel, Come, Thou Tortoise.

To see more of Jordan’s work visit: www.getsetfilms.com

Q and A with Jordan Canning...

When/how did you get bitten with the artist bug?

Jordan C: When I turned a short story I'd written into the script for my Pillowtalk and got to make the film through NIFCO's First Time Filmmaker's program. It was like I suddenly remembered that making movies was what I'd always wanted to do with my life.

When did you realize art would be a career for you? How do you make that work?

Jordan C: I'm lucky. Over the years I was able to work in film and still make my own projects in between (or sometimes at the same time). I've always hoped I could do this as a career, but it's only been in the last year and a half that I've felt that possibility finally turning into a reality. I think you make it work...by making your work, and continuing to get better at it.

What has been your biggest “out-sized impact on the scene” that you’ve been most proud of?

Jordan C: I'm so proud of the two projects I made last year - the Pathological Lovers’ Best Served video, and Not Over Easy - and the support they've gotten locally as well as outside of the province. The video being nominated for an ECMA, and Not Over Easy winning Best Music at the Atlantic Film Festival and getting into Tribeca...it's exciting and encouraging to know that your work is out there in the world, being seen and appreciated.

Who would play you in the movie of your life?

Jordan C: I've always liked to think that I'd play Tina Fey in a movie about her life, so maybe we could play each other.

What artist has made an impact on your career?

Jordan C: My mom (artist Pam Hall). Among many other things, she taught me that it's okay to choose your art over a job. As scary and uncertain as it can be, it's what makes you happy...so trust that it will all work out.

Billy Gauthier

Billy Gauthier is a sculptor/carver from North West River, Labrador.

His interest in art started at a very early age – as soon as he was old enough to hold a pencil he would draw for hours on end. He began carving as a teenager, after watching his cousin (well-known Labrador carver John Terriak) carve at his studio. After one session, Terriak gave Billy a piece of stone and a few files - Billy went home and started carving his first piece, a face in a hood, which he gave to his mother for mother’s day. He sold his second piece to his boss at the gas station where he worked…and after selling a few more carvings, he quit his job at the gas station.

Since then, with no formal art training, he has continued to develop his craft. Favorite subjects include human faces, traditional Inuit life, and shamanism.

His work has been shown and sold at the Birches Gallery in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, the Edgewater Gallery in New Brunswick, and in recent years he has participated in several shows at the prestigious Spirit Wrester Gallery in Vancouver. In 2010 he enjoyed his first solo exhibition there, which sold out within hours.

His work has been purchased by the department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada for the National Collection, and has been presented to French president Jacques Chirac and other dignitaries.

To see more of Billy’s work visit: http://www.spiritwrestler.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=2_76

Q and A with Billy Gauthier...

When/how did you get bitten with the artist bug?

Billy: Art has always played an important part in my life. As a child I grew up with very little money, so drawing(my first love) was a source of entertainment that was easily affordable. I would draw for hours on end, complete the piece and wait for my mother to critique it.

When did you realize art would be a career for you? How do you make that work?

Billy: When I was eight or nine my stepfather at the time Gary asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I quickly answered, “an artist”. He then said I should pick a more reliable career, because art was just too difficult to become successful in. I cried for a while, asked my mother what she thought about it, and she said, "Billy you can be absolutely anything you want to be, as long as you’re willing to put enough work into it". I've always believed in the great advice she gave me that day, which is how I was able to make it as an artist and any other achievements I've attained.

What has been your biggest “out-sized impact on the scene” that you’ve been most proud of?

Billy: I would have to say my first major solo exhibition titled "Visions From Labrador", which was held at the Spirit Wrestler Gallery in Vancouver. I had hoped for, but didn't expect, a completely sold out show on the opening morning. I'm still vibrating from the exhibit’s outcome. Although I realize much of the success is due to the second-to-none reputation of the Spirit Wrestler Gallery and the marketing they were able to provide for me.

Who would play you in the movie of your life?

Billy: If it was a drama I'd have to say Zac Efron, and if it were a comedy Paul Rudd. My life could be both genres. And both actors are kind of short, so I think either would be fitting, lol.

What artist has made an impact on your career?

Billy: There were many, such as Michael Massie, Kiawak Ashoona, John Terriak, and Michelangelo Buonarroti. Although my uncle George Hope is the one who deserves the most credit, because he is the one who taught me the proper proportions of a human face at an early age, which is still my preferred subject matter.