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VANCOUVER – Three talented
British Columbians were named today by Premier Gordon Campbell and Keith
Mitchell, chair of the British Columbia Achievement Foundation, as the
recipients of the 2009 BC Creative Achievement Awards for Applied Art and
Design.
“In
applying creativity, ingenuity and innovative designs to functional objects,
this year’s recipients demonstrate the talent and strength that exists
throughout B.C.’s applied art and design community,” said Premier Campbell. “We
are pleased to celebrate the accomplishments of these artists and to highlight
the important contributions that applied artists and designers make to the
cultural and economic fabric of B.C.”
“Working
in wood, glass, fibre, clay, metal in such areas as furniture, jewelry,
textiles, ceramics, industrial and fashion design, these artists create pieces
that inspire us all,” Mitchell noted. “Today’s recipients join 20 previous
recipients who have been honoured since the inception of the award in 2005, all
of whom represent the wide range of outstanding applied art and design work in
B.C.”
The
recipients of the 2009 BC Creative Achievement Awards are:
1.
Judson Beaumont, Vancouver – furniture design
Inspired by kids and their liberal acceptance
of the bizarre, Beaumont is widely known for creating whimsical, imaginative
and masterful furniture pieces. Beaumont graduated from the 3-D department of
the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design (ECU) in 1985, and since then has
been producing one of-a-kind, interactive designs from his custom design
studio, Straight Line Designs Inc. His
company has completed unique design projects and installations throughout North
America and around the world, including pieces for children’s hospitals,
museums, libraries, Disney cruise ships and various exhibitions. His most
recent initiative centres around his designs and products using wood from
B.C.’s mountain pine beetle forests, thus taking an under-utilized raw material
and creating beautiful and unique value-added wood pieces.
2.
Robert Johnston, Vancouver – industrial design
Striving
to develop designs that bridge the gap between users and technology, Johnston
creates compelling and engaging products and experiences through a strategic
balance of business, science and art. A 1998 graduate of the industrial design
program at the ECU, Johnston has worked on a diverse range of innovative and
award-winning projects in a variety of mediums, including consumer products,
equipment, packaging, and environments. Johnston is a strong advocate for the
promotion of industrial design in British Columbia and is an active member of
the BC Industrial Design Association. In 2006, he founded Tangram Design with
the goal of creating products and experiences that are compelling for people to
engage with but are also profitable for B.C. companies to produce.
3.
Lilach Lotan, Nanaimo – ceramic design
A
graduate of the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem, majoring in
ceramic design, Lotan specializes in wheel-thrown porcelain lighting,
using the purity of porcelain in her fresh and contemporary design. At
the heart of her work lies an idea, conveyed by shape, form and contour. The
contour reveals itself by the presence and absence of material, both equally
important. Two of her pieces have recently been featured in “500 Pitchers” and
“500 Plates and Chargers” by Lark Books. Lotan received the 2008 One of a Kind
Award for Excellence in All Craft Media, Western Canada, presented by the Craft
Council of British Columbia.
The recipients of the 2009 BC Creative
Achievement Awards will be recognized at a ceremony to be held in September
2009. Each recipient will receive $2,500 and be granted the use of the British
Columbia Creative Achievement Award seal to signify their creative excellence.
The
recipients were selected by an independent jury chaired by board member Dr.
Robert Belton, dean of Creative and Critical Studies at UBC Okanagan. The jury
was comprised of Sam Carter, artist, craft and design educator, and associate
professor at the Emily Carr University of Art + Design; Lubos Culen, curator,
Vernon Public Art Gallery; Alex Feldman, partner, Form3 Design; and Tony
Martin, executive director, Comox Valley Art Gallery.
The British Columbia Achievement Foundation is an
independent foundation established and endowed by the Province of B.C. in 2003
to celebrate community service, arts, humanities and enterprise.
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contact: |
Executive Director BC Achievement Foundation 604 618-6949 |
Press Secretary Office of the Premier 604 307-7177 |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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