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: