InFocus Photo Exhibit Opening Reception this Thursday
It was an exciting weekend! Not only did we hang the InFocus Photo Exhibit at dc3 Art Projects, but our InFocus People’s Choice Award voting came to a close. The voting was a close race all month. In the end, there were over 2,000 votes cast online. I am so excited to announce the winner. That will take place during my Curator Talk at the opening reception.
Alexis Marie & Aaron Chute, the core InFocus Team.
A big thank-you to Vistek, our InFocus People’s Choice Award sponsor.
InFocus Photo opening reception:
Thursday, February 4, 6-9PM
Curator Talk 7PM
dc3 Art Projects
10567 – 111 Street
Edmonton, AB
Last week I spoke about InFocus on Global morning news. Here is the interview.
I hope to see you Thursday night!
InFocus Photo Exhibit opens February 5
I am so proud of the super talented photographers that will be showcasing their work at DC3 Art Projects at the second annual InFocus Photography Exhibition. The exhibit opens in less than a month, with the whole show kicking off the day before, February 4, at the opening reception.
Kick-off party:
Thursday, February 4, 2016
6 – 10 pm
Curator Talk & Announcement of People’s Choice Award:
Thursday, February 4, 2016
7 pm
Exhibit Run:
February 5 – 27, 2016
DC3 Art Projects
10567 – 111 Street
Edmonton, AB, Canada
Save these dates! Share with your friends! Come out and celebrate great Alberta-made photography with us!
That’s our mission: To promote and exhibit innovative, thoughtful and provocative photography created by Alberta’s contemporary image makers.
This year, on top of our exhibit, we also have an exciting competition – which is happening right now! It is the InFocus People’s Choice Award. Click here to vote right now for your favorite photograph. We have already received over 500 votes. The competition will be live until the end of January. The winner will be announced at the opening reception on February 4 during the Curator talk at 7 pm.
Please connect with us:
Again, congratulations to our 2016 InFocus Photographers:
(In alphabetical order)
Hedy Bach
Hélène Cyr
Al Dixon
Gerry Dotto
Rae Emogene
Benjamin Garcia
Aidan Guerra
Candace Makowichuk
Vincent Morban
Eric Petersen
Rob Pohl
Alysha Ragusa
Karin Richter
Steve Ricketts
Christopher Shaw
Brady Simpson
Curtis Trent
Kevin Tuong
Suman Varghese
Anne Tapler White
See you at the show!
Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts PHOTOS & a BIG Thank-You from Alexis Marie Chute for the John Poole Promotion of the Arts Award, Edmonton
Last night the Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts honoured local individuals and organizations that play a key role in Edmonton’s creative community.
Congratulations to all the nominees and winners in all categories!
Mayor’s Award for Innovative Support by a Business for the Arts
Recognizing a local business that has invested in an arts organization, event, project or individual artist in the greater Edmonton area in a creative and original manner.
• WINNER: Happy Harbor Comics, nominated by Jeff Martin
• Print Machine, nominated by Common Ground Arts Society
Mayor’s Award for Sustained Support of the Arts
Recognizing a business or an individual that has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to investing in Edmonton’s arts and culture industry through a specific arts organization, event, individual artist, or widespread investment in the arts.
• ATB Financial, nominated by the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
• WINNER: Audreys Books, nominated by LitFest and the Alberta Book Fair Society
• Pardee Badyal, nominated by Marlaina Eldey
John Poole Award for Promotion of the Arts
Recognizing an individual, arts organization, media organization or business that has promoted the arts in a distinctly creative or exceptional manner.
• WINNER: Alexis Marie Chute, nominated by Wes Lafortune
• What It Is Podcast, nominated by Maggie Baird
My selfie onstage with Mayor Don Iveson
ATB Financial Ambassador of the Arts Award
Recognizing a mid-career individual or organization successful on a national or international level, that enlightens audiences and promotes Edmonton’s rich cultural, performance or visual arts scene in an extraordinary way.
• Catalyst Theatre, nominated by Janine Andrews
• Chris Craddock, nominated by Trevor Schmidt
• WINNER: Rapid Fire Theatre, nominated by the Rapid Fire Theatre Board of Directors
• Tammy-Jo Mortensen, nominated by Jennifer Annesley
Youth Artist Award
Recognizing the importance of art and design to a youth’s education, and encouraging the development and education of young artists.
• Collective Conscience, nominated by Eagle Vision Music and Design Studio
• WINNER: Keiran MacDonald, nominated by Victoria School of the Arts
DIALOG Award for Excellence in Artistic Direction
Recognizing the outstanding achievement of an artistic leader in a specific arts discipline, actively leading and working in the greater Edmonton arts and culture sector.
• WINNER: Amy Shostak, nominated by Christopher Samuel
• Byron Trevor Martin, nominated by Brianne Jang
• John Hudson, nominated by Heidi Collins-McCann
• Steve Pirot, nominated by The Nextfest Arts Company
• Gabriela Jessome, nominated by Sara Hernandez Madden and Trevor Madden
Mile Zero Dance Progressive Artist Award
Recognizing the achievements of Edmonton-based artists who actively work in the arts and engage with the community in challenging and exciting ways.
• Amy Shostak, nominated by Christopher Samuel
• Kelsie Acton, nominated by Brooke Leifso
• Chaka Zinyemba, nominated by Tinashe Mtshiya
• WINNER: Paul Freeman, nominated by the Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts
• Jeannie Vandekerkhove, nominated by Daniela Masellis
Northlands Award for an Emerging Artist
Recognizing Edmonton’s valued, upcoming professionals – artists who, in the early stages of their careers, demonstrate exceptional talent and accomplishments, as well as a unique artistic expression and commitment to the arts in the Edmonton region.
• Giselle Denis, nominated by Glori Meldrum
• Jake Hastey, nominated by Richelle Thoreson
• KazMega, nominated by Roya Yazdanmehr
• WINNER: Ahmed Knowmadic, nominated by Muna Saleh
• Nuela Charles, nominated by Andrew Miller
• Cayley Thomas, nominated by the International Day of Personal with Disabilities Planning Committee for Edmonton
Robert Kroetsch City of Edmonton Book Prize
Recognizing written work which deals with some aspect of the city of Edmonton: history, geography, current affairs, its arts or its people or is written by an Edmonton author.
• WINNER: Rudy Wiebe, Come Back, Penguin Random House Canada
• Tim Bowling, Circa Nineteen Hundred and Grief, Gaspereau Press
• Greg Bechtel, Boundary Problems, Freehand Books
ATCO Gas Award for Outstanding Lifetime Achievement
Recognizing an individual who, over a minimum of 25 years, has made an outstanding contribution to the arts in Edmonton.
• After careful deliberation, the awards jury for the ATCO Gas Award for Outstanding Lifetime Achievement is honouring just one individual, a true Edmonton gem, a musical legend who has celebrated a wildly successful career here at home and around the world. Tommy Banks wins the 2015 ATCO Gas Award for Outstanding Lifetime Achievement!
Syncrude Award For Excellence in Arts Management
Recognizing individuals or organizations who have demonstrated innovation, leadership and vision in the management of a professional arts organization.
• Daniel Cournoyer, nominated by the Film and Visual Arts Society of Alberta
• Jesse Szymanski, nominated by Ron E. Scott
• Jill Roszell, nominated by Rose Ginther
• WINNER: Karen Brown-Fournell, nominated by Christine DeWitt
• Paul Matwychuk, nominated by NeWest Press
TELUS Courage to Innovate Award
Recognizing an individual or organization that has displayed the courage to take artistic risks and embrace innovation in artistic expression, resulting in a unique and distinctive project.
• WINNER: Amber Borotsik, nominated by Ben Sures
• Ariane Mahryke Lemire, nominated by Chris Martin
• Chaka Zinyemba, nominated by Nonsikelelo Mathe
• The Cultural Association Folklorical Ballet Mexico Lindo of Alberta, nominated by Sara Hernandez Madden and Trevor Madden
If any of the winners would like high resolution images of the above, please email me info@alexismariechute.com
The artwork on the screen is by Jason Carter.
It was wonderful to receive the John Poole Promotion of the Arts Award. I do a lot of volunteering and advocacy work, but in particular I was nominated by Exposure Photography Festival for my role during the festival in Edmonton by promoting and exhibiting Edmonton and area photographers.
I want to give a BIG THANK YOU to Pace Edmonton, Mayor Iveson, John Poole, the selection jury, Wes Lafortune, all the 2015 InFocus Photographers, my AMAZING husband and creative partner Aaron Chute, my kids (Hannah, Zachary & Eden), and my parents, family and friends.
“Behind every great woman there is a team of people holding her up.” – Alexis Marie Chute
To them, I offer my sincerest gratitude, today and always.
Celebrating with hubby Aaron Chute
PRESS RELEASE: Mayor Don Iveson awards Alexis Marie Chute the John Poole Award for Promotion of the Arts
Last night’s spirited Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts event at the Winspear recognized many talented artists and organizations for their contribution to our city. Alexis Marie Chute, up-and-coming artist, writer, photographer and arts advocate, was awarded the John Poole Promotion for the Arts award. The award recognizes the promotion of the arts in a distinctly creative or exceptional manner.
“The jury selected Alexis Marie Chute for this award because of the scope and depth of her work to promote Edmonton arts and artists to a wide audience here in our city and beyond,” said Mayor Don Iveson to the audience as he handed Chute her award, a Bronze sculpture by Edmonton artist Catherine Burgess.
Alexis Marie Chute was nominated by Wes Lafortune, the director of Exposure Photography Festival. It was just this February 2015 which saw the festival expand its territory to all of Alberta (previously only in Calgary, Banff and Canore). With this news, Chute conceived of an event called InFocus Edmonton, a group photography exhibition of Edmonton and area photographers. The exhibit shone the spotlight on local image-makers within the city. Chute curated the more than 200 submissions, creating an exhibit that celebrated thirty local photographers. She looked for the strongest visual images and the collection of individuals that were selected included well known photographers, professionals, amateurs, and students.
The reach of InFocus was significant. InFocus was celebrated across the province and Edmontonians respond very positively to the event, seen through their prolific promotion of the exhibit on Facebook, Twitter, event pages and blogs. InFocus become a community exhibition that many took tremendous pride in. In this way it set itself apart from other arts events because of this feeling of collaboration that Alexis Marie fostered.
Over 250 people visited InFocus at Harcourt House Artist Run Centre over its two-day run and Chute filled the gallery space with live music by local performer Mohsin Zaman. Chute was intentional in making InFocus an accessible event for all Edmontonians. It was free to visit the gallery, curator talk and reception. It was also important to the mission of InFocus that photographers gain all monies generated from their sales. No commissions were taken and Chute believes this encouraged and stimulated both purchasers in financial support for artists and also rewarded the creative vision and skill of the featured photographers.
At InFocus, Chute announced that it would become an annual exhibition in Edmonton. DC3 Art Projects, a new commercial gallery in Edmonton, had already signed up to showcase InFocus in 2016 for the entire run of Exposure during the month of February.
Alexis Marie Chute has received many distinctions for her creative work and, outside of InFocus, she volunteers on the board of the Canadian Author’s Association and mentors artists, writers, musicians and other individuals in creative fields within our city. PhotoLife Magazine named her an “Emerging Canadian Photographer,” she was the 2012/2013 Artist in Residence at Harcourt House Artist Run Centre, and Avenue Magazine named her a Top 40 Under 40. Chute is a tireless supporter of the arts in our city and shares her passion with her more than 17 thousand followers on Twitter and on her blog www.AlexisMarieArt.com.
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To book an interview contact: Alexis Marie Chute 780-499-4311 or
info@alexismariechute.com and visit www.AlexisMarieChute.com for more information
Curatory Work Shortlisted for Promotion of the Arts Award
Curating InFocus photography exhibition was an awesome experience in and of itself, and so to be shortlisted for it in the John Poole Award for Promotion of the Arts is icing on the cake. The award is one of many given out at the Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts Awards hosted by the Professional Arts Coalition of Edmonton.
John Poole Award for Promotion of the Arts:
Recognizing an individual, arts organization, media organization or business that has promoted the arts in a distinctly creative or exceptional manner.
It is my pleasure to support the arts community in Edmonton. It is my community, my peer image-makers, artists, musicians, dancers, sculptors and other fellow creative individuals and organizations. I believe we will all flourish when we support and build each other up.
The inaugural InFocus exhibition, held during Exposure Photography Festival 2015, was a huge success! More than 200 people visited the show during its two-day run. Thirty photographers from Edmonton and area were promoted and their work championed for its artistic and technical skill. Most of the photographers were able to attend the opening and they shared their love of photography with all those who came to experience the show. The energy that surrounded the entire exhibition was tremendously positive, supportive and collaborative. Truly, we have much to be proud of.
I must acknowledge the tireless vision and execution assistance of my partner in InFocus: Aaron Chute. Without him, InFocus would not have been as technologically savvy or the artwork hung as precisely. Aaron, THANK YOU!
To those that nominated me for the John Poole Award for Promotion of the Arts, specifically Exposure Photography Festival manager Wes Lafortune and others, I wish to express my deep and heartfelt gratitude.
Attend the 28th Annual Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts, click here for tickets.
Exciting news with InFocus: Next year the exhibition will be held all month long in February at DC3 Art Projects. I’ll post more about InFocus 2016 and its call for submissions soon.
Opportunities for Photographers: Photo Competitions
Sharing the wealth of opportunities for photographers, here is a list of competitions! Note: Some of the deadlines are soon!
I do not support or endorse any of these organizations and encourage everyone to do their research before submitting.
GOOD LUCK!
Communication Arts Magazine – Photography
Deadline: March 13, 2015
Black & White Spider Awards
Early Closing Deadline: March 20, 2015
Closing Deadline: April 24, 2015, midnight
PDN Magazine – Emerging Photographer
Deadline: March 5, 2015
PDN Magazine – The Curator
Deadline: March 26, 2015
Rangefinder Magazine – Seeing the Light
Deadline: March 5, 2015
Kontinent Awards
Deadline: May 1, 2015
International Photographic Salon Varna Bulgaria
Deadline: June 10, 2015
Other Non-Photography Competitions:
Communication Arts Magazine – Design
Deadline: May 1, 2015
Communication Arts Magazine – Advertising
Deadline: May 1, 2015
Communication Arts Magazine – Typography
Deadline: September 4, 2015
Communication Arts Magazine – Interactive
Deadline: October 2, 2015
The RBC Painting Competition 2014 – The Results According to my Four Year Old
A big congrats to Tiziana La Melia of Vancouver, British Columbia for winning the 2014 RBC Painting Competition with her art, “Hanging on to the Part,” (oil on panel, 42×25 inches)!
I loved receiving a copy of all the finalists in the competition catalogue. We are a seriously creative and talented country here in Canada! I had my favorites and my daughter, Hannah, had her own. That’s the beauty of art, right? The eye of the beholder…
Before the winner was announced, I flipped through the catalogue of finalists with Hannah, who is a buoyant and outspoken four-year-old. I asked her to give me her first response to each piece. I asked her, “Do you like it?” – And she was candid and insightful with her own preferences. One thing was sure, my mini-me knew exactly what she liked and had a strong reaction to the paintings.
I share my daughter’s reactions here not to upset anyone or poke fun, but as the honest and often humorous reactions as a child. Sometimes the art world can be so stuffy and we all need to chill out and enjoy the craziness of it all every once and a while.
I am not including the pictures of each artist’s work out of respect, but please visit the RBC Painting Competition website so you can follow along with the images as Hannah makes her declarations.
Here is what Hannah said:
Of 2013 national winner, Colleen Heslin’s “Almost Young, Wild and Free”
Hannah said: “I don’t like these parts,” as she gestures to the whole thing.
Of 2013 honourable mention winner, Neil Harrison’s “Knowledge”
Hannah said: “I like it. It looks like something a cowboy wears.”
2012 honourable mention winner, Colin Dorward, painted, “Labyrinthineon”
Hannah said: “It looks cool!”
From this year’s cream of the crop:
Ashleigh Bartlett of Calgary AB, “Ballet Duo”
Hannah said: “It looks cool.”
Carly Butler, Halifax NS, “Hurricane”
Hannah said: “I like it. It looks like a canyon. It looks like a piece of paper.”
Jennifer Carvalho, Toronto ON, “Landscape (pink)”
Hannah said: “I like it because it looks like outside.”
Wallis Cheung, Toronto ON, “Cut Corners”
Hannah said: “I don’t like it.” (Me: “Why don’t you like it?”) “Because I don’t like it.”
Teto Elsiddique, Halifax NS, “7 of 6”
Hannah said: “I like pink. I don’t like that colour,” she pointed to the rest of the image.
Karine Frechette, Montreal QC, “Cyclone”
Hannah said, “Yes, I like it! She made it, Mom,” she said excitedly as she pointed to the picture of Karine. “It looks cool.”
James Gardner, Toronto ON, “Fixed Rock”
Hannah said: “I like it because it has cool colouring.”
Ufuk Gueray, Winnipeg MB, “Market” – 2014 HONOURABLE MENTION
Hannah said: “Yes, I like it because that side looks cool,” as she pointed to the circle of colour.
Tiziana La Melia, Vancouver BC, “Hanging on to the part” – 2014 WINNER!
Hannah said: “I don’t like it because it looks upside down.”
Nicholas Lachance, Montreal QC, “index no. 3 The book of Empathy” – 2014 HONOURABLE MENTION
Hannah said: “No, I don’t like it because it looks dark, it’s just two colours.”
Gavin Lynch, Ottawa ON, “Before the Fire (2014 version)”
Hannah said: “I don’t like it because the trees have owies because they cut them down. The trees are poor because they got cut down.”
Megan McCabe, Toronto ON, “Wading”
Hannah said: “I like it because it looks like it has water skies.”
Laura Piasta, Vancouver BC, “Bog Breath”
Hannah said: “I don’t like it because I don’t like it.”
Robert Taite, Winnipeg MB, “Untitled Work from Always Somewhere Else”
Hannah said: “I like it. Yes, because it looks kinda funny, it makes me laugh, funny pictures.”
Elysanne Tremblay, Montreal QC, “Salut bonhomme, salut bonhomme”
Hannah said: “I don’t like it because it doesn’t look cool.”
There you go! The RBC Painting Competition finalists according to a four-year-old!
The 2014 Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts in Pictures
It was an honor to be shortlisted for the Northlands Award for an Emerging Artist. The Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts in Edmonton was great celebration of our city’s creativity. As always, it was nice to bump into other artsy folks and enjoy each other’s work. Here are some photos from the night:
The shortlisted artists for the Northlands Award for an Emerging Artist: Jason Blower, Nuela Charles, Alexis Marie Chute, Ainsley Hillyard, Doug Organ, and Elizabeth Withey
Alexis Marie & Aaron Chute
Alexis Marie Chute and Derek Brooks, Harcourt House Artist Run Centre’s Executive Director
Alexis Marie Chute and Writers Guild of Alberta Executive Director Carol Holmes
The powerful words of Poet Laureate, Mary Pinkoski, made me shiver.
Musical performance by Jeff Stuart and the Hearts with Shannon Johnson
Cheryl Slater-Roberts, Alexis Marie Chute, Charlotte Robb, and Sherwood Park Mayor Roxanne Carr
Doug Robb and Alexis Marie Chute
Musician Ariane Mahryke Lemire and Alexis Marie Chute
Mayor Don Iveson
Mayor Iveson taking a selfie on stage.
Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson and Alexis Marie Chute
Edmund Haakonson, Harcourt House Artist Run Centre president of the board and Alexis Marie Chute
Sherwood Park Mayor Roxanne Carr, Alexis Marie Chute, Cheryl Slater-Roberts and Bill Roberts
Cheryl Slater-Roberts and Alexis Marie Chute
Sobey Art Award 2014 Longlist
The Sobey Art Award, one of the most prestigious competitions in Canada, just announced its longlist. Across five regions of Canada, twenty five artists have been selected. With award monies mounting to a staggering $100,000 ($50,000 to the winner alone), it would seem that this is ‘the’ dream for the hard working artist.
If you won the $50,000, what would you do with the money?
Here are some of my ideas:
- Buy supplies… unique wood for my sculptures, paint, a large scale photo printer, materials so I can do my own framing…
- Go big… I would print and frame my photographs much larger than I do currently, build bigger sculptures, paint canvases twice my height…
- Rent a warehouse… I’d love to work in a giant, musky old space where I can spread out and up…
- Take a trip to a far off land to be inspired… maybe Thialand or India or Turkey
Winning the Sobey Art Award is a dream of mine – and one day when I do, I’ll come back to this list for ideas. Who knows, by then I may have a whole new list.
Until then, I would like to congratulate the longlist artists:
West Coast/Yukon
Allison Hrabluik
Farheen HaQ
Peter Morin
Dan Starling
Evan Lee
Prairies and the North
Michael Dumontier & Neil Farber
Cedric Bomford
Divya Mehra
Zin Taylor
Michael Dudeck
Ontario
Kelly Jazvac
Reena Katz
Balint Zsako
Chris Curreri
Jean-Paul Kelly
Québec
Olivia Boudreau
Diane Morin
Nadia Myre
Dominique Pétrin
Jon Rafman
Atlantic
Tamara Henderson
Ursula Johnson
Eleanor King
Graeme Patterson
Becka Viau
My top picks in each category:
West Coast and Yukon: Allison Hrabluik and Evan Lee
Prairies and The North: Michael Dudeck
Ontario: Balint Zsako
Québec: Olivia Boudreau
These picks are obviously based on personal preference. The winner will remain a mystery for now, only time will tell.
What do you think of the work of the longlisted artists?
Do you think their work is a good representation of Canada?
Are you feeling inspired?
Another item in the “Art Award Update” – In less than one week the winners will be announced in the Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I’m so proud to be nominated, and shortlisted, for the Northlands Award for an Emerging Artist. Fingers crossed.
Mayor’s Art Awards Trailer:
