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Alexis Marie Blog shortlisted for the Canadian Weblog Awards in Two Categories

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The Shortlist has been announced for the Canadian Weblog Awards. I was kindly notified by a twitter connection of my blog’s inclusion. Out of 34 categories my blog has made the top five in both:

Art, Crafting and Photography

Writing and Literature

Thank you to those that nominated my blog and thank you to those that read every post. It means the world to me. The first, second and third place winners will be announced in two days, on December 7th, 2013. No matter the outcome, I am honoured to be included on this list of some truly amazing blogs and dedicated bloggers.

When I started blogging I had no idea the enjoyment I would derive from online journaling, sharing stories and updates on my work. It has been a pleasure.

Wanted, Chosen, Planned Nominated for a Yeggie

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It is with much excitement that I announce that my blog, Wanted, Chosen, Planned, has been nominated for a Yeggie, Edmonton’s New Media Award.

The Yeggies honors local content creators and social media mavens in our city. We have an abundance of talent in Edmonton and I am thrilled to be counted amongst many greats! Wanted, Chosen, Planned is a blog where I write about “Life After the Loss of a Child” and strive to encourage those whose baby is taken too soon. Through heartfelt posts from my personal experience I reach out to those suffering from loss due to miscarriage, stillbirth, SIDS and early infant loss. My son Zachary died in 2010 from a cardiac tumor and since then I have been experimenting with this strange thing called “grief” and it’s associate, “healing.”

Wanted, Chosen, Planned is one of six blogs in the “Best in Family or Parenting” category.

The awards will be given out at a happening event on May 4, 2013 at the Shaw Conference Centre, Salon 11/12 (7:30pm), hosted by Trent Wilkie. Buy tickets online!

Northlands Award for Emerging Artist, Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts

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On Monday, April 29, 2013 the Mayor’s Celebration of Arts kicks off its 26th year recognizing stars of the Edmonton arts community and its partnerships with local businesses. It is an exciting event – one of which I am honoured to be a part. I have been nominated for the Northlands Award for an Emerging Artist. My category is by far the largest with fourteen artists in the running, including myself.

No matter who wins, I am thrilled that our city has an event that celebrates artists and artist-friendly businesses. I believe the wonderful talent in our city needs recognition and encouragement. We are a creative group without doubt!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my nominator: Harcourt House and specifically the amazing Derek Brooks. The support of Harcourt House is an artist’s dream and every day of my residency I am immensely thankful for the organization’s belief and support of me and my work. There is no hesitation when I say that Harcourt House has played a pivotal role in my artistic development. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Please attend this exciting event with me!

Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts

Winspear Centre, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

7:00pm, Monday, April 29, 2013

Purchase tickets at the Winspear.

 

I’d like to celebrate everyone nominated in my category!

Northlands Award for an Emerging Artist

100 mile house nominated by Al Chapman

Patrick Arès-Pilon nominated by Mile Zero Dance

Giselle Boehm nominated by March Music Inc & The School of Song

Justin Brunelle nominated by Parkland Films

Alexis Marie Chute nominated by Harcourt House

Giselle Denis nominated by Lisa Evangelos

Dave Luxton nominated by Kids Up Front Foundation Edmonton

Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail nominated by Natasha Deen

Jessy Mossop nominated by Rob Tanner

Omar Mouallem nominated by Lisa Baroldi, Director/Vision Holder, Progress Unlimited

Jason Lee Norman nominated by Lamya Asiff

Mary Pinkoski nominated by Leila Sidi

Erin Elizabeth Ross nominated by Michael Dub

Sean Sonego nominated by Witold L. Gutter

 

Good luck and see you at the Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts!

Poetry Reading Contest, Canadian Authors Association

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The Canadian Authors Association held their Fourth Annual Let it Snow, Let it Grow Member Social at the beginning of March. The theme was a challenge to writers to pen a narrative poem or short story about what it means to grow. I entered the contest which entailed a public reading of my work at the event, held at The Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse.

Reading my poetry at The Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse for the Canadian Authors Association.

Reading my poetry at The Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse for the Canadian Authors Association.

I was proud to be selected as a winner, along with fellow CAA board member Hendrik Slegtenhorst. The event was hosted by author Gail Sidonie Sobat.

Receiving the contest award from Gail Sidonie Sobat, with fellow winner Hendrik Slegtenhorst (and my daughter who ran up to be in the picture).

Receiving the contest award from Gail Sidonie Sobat, with fellow winner Hendrik Slegtenhorst (and my daughter who ran up to be in the picture).

I am proud to be a board member of the Alberta Branch of the Canadian Authors Association. CAA is a wonderful organization with the mandate of “Writers Helping Writers.” It has been immensely encouraging for me to connect with other writers in an open environment of learning and support. If you are interested, please join us!

Thanks for Your Votes

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Exposure Photography Festival held its closing party on February 28th at Endeavor Art Gallery in Calgary. The gallery is beautiful with tall walls and large windows; definitely a space I would love to have a solo exhibition in one day! At the party, VISTEK announced the awards for Emerging Alberta Photographer and People’s choice. I’m always a little disappointed when I don’t win (human nature, right!) but just to be selected for the Emerging Photographer Showcase and having my image on a billboard in Calgary are true highlights.

Exposure Photo Festival VISTEK Emerging Photographer Finalizt Alexis Marie Chute copyright 03

Exposure Photo Festival VISTEK Emerging Photographer Finalizt Alexis Marie Chute copyright 02

A huge thanks to all my family, friends, clients, colleagues, Twitter followers and Facebook friends who voted for me! Your support is always more than appreciated!

Exposure Photo Festival VISTEK Emerging Photographer Finalizt Alexis Marie Chute copyright

Endeavor Art Gallery, Suite 200, 1209 First Street SW Calgary Alberta

Endeavor Art Gallery, Suite 200, 1209 First Street SW Calgary Alberta

Vote for my Images, Exposure Photography Festival

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Artists Lens - Alberta Society of Artists - Alexis Marie Chute - Exposure Photography Festival 07

Exposure is a photography festival in Calgary, Banff and Canmore Alberta running from the 1st to the 28th of February, 2013. Their catch phrase, “Photography is the Medium of Our Times,” is entirely true from my perspective. You just have to drive a main drag in the city to see billboard after billboard of images lining the street.

Image is king.

I was recently in Calgary to attend the opening of the group exhibition “The Artists Lens” put on by the Alberta Society of Artist’s. Three of my photographs stood on easels at the center of the room, bathed in the beautiful spot lights of Artpoint Gallery. It was a pleasure to rub shoulders with the local art crowd of Calgary and even if you missed the opening, you can still visit Artpoint Gallery until the end of the Festival to see “The Artists Lens.”

Artists Lens - Alberta Society of Artists - Alexis Marie Chute - Exposure Photography Festival 08 Artists Lens - Alberta Society of Artists - Alexis Marie Chute - Exposure Photography Festival 06 Artists Lens - Alberta Society of Artists - Alexis Marie Chute - Exposure Photography Festival 04 Artists Lens - Alberta Society of Artists - Alexis Marie Chute - Exposure Photography Festival 03 Artists Lens - Alberta Society of Artists - Alexis Marie Chute - Exposure Photography Festival 01

While in Calgary, I received word that one of my photographs was being displayed on a digital billboard, a perk of being a finalist in the 2013 VISTEK Emerging Photographer competition. Near the airport, my husband, kids and I found the billboard! My photograph of marbles shone brightly on the overcast winter day – it was surreal.

Exposure Photo Festival Alexis Marie Chute VISTEK Emerging Photographer 2013 01 Exposure Photo Festival Alexis Marie Chute VISTEK Emerging Photographer 2013 02

There is a People’s Choice Award to be had by one of the competition finalists – and it involves a quick online vote.

 

If you enjoy my work, I would sincerely appreciate your vote!

 

Artists Lens - Alberta Society of Artists - Alexis Marie Chute - Exposure Photography Festival 05

Vote for me as the VISTEK Emerging Photographer!

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Copyright Alexis Marie Chute

Copyright Alexis Marie Chute

I’ve done my part, now I need your help!

I am a top 10 finalist in the 2013 VISTEK Emerging Photographer Showcase! This is such a great honor and I am thrilled to be selected amongst 9 other great photographers across Alberta.

The top 10 have been posted online and now, for the next month, voting will take place to choose The People’s Choice Award.

This is where you come in! Please vote and help me win!

Copyright Alexis Marie Chute

Copyright Alexis Marie Chute

This competition takes place as a part of Exposure Photography Festival in Calgary. Exposure will award a major prize to the best emerging Alberta-based photographer at the Closing Party on Feb. 28, 2013 held at Calgary’s Endeavor Art Gallery from 7 – 10 p.m. A runner up will also be determined by online voting and a People’s Choice winner will be selected from ballots filled out at the Closing Party on Feb. 28.

Copyright Alexis Marie Chute

Copyright Alexis Marie Chute

 

You can cast your vote at the bottom of the Exposure Photography Festival VISTEK Emerging Photographer Showcase (scroll to the bottom).

Thanks in advance! I truly appreciate your support!

Copyright Alexis Marie Chute

Copyright Alexis Marie Chute

 

PRISM international’s 2013 Non-Fiction Contest long-list

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When I write, I create, edit, submit and forget. It’s a process that works since I am a super busy artist/photographer/writer/mom/wife/renaissance woman extraordinaire. The forgetting part is handy since I don’t waste time biting my nails wondering if I have a rejection letter city hopping its way to my mailbox.

PRISM International Magazine

So you can imagine I was wonderfully surprised to discover that my creative non-fiction piece, “Goodbye and Goodbyes” made it onto the long list of the PRISM international 2013 Non-Fiction Contest long-list. Wawsa! This news made me smile!

The long-list of 15 pieces of writing has been officially announced today. The short-list will be announced tomorrow, Tuesday January 15 and the grand prize winners and runners up the following day, Wednesday, January 16. It will be a whirlwind three days and I have already begun my nail biting now that the race is on. I may have no nails left by Wednesday but I can’t wait!

 

A little bit about PRISM International:

PRISM international is a quarterly magazine out of Vancouver, British Columbia, whose mandate is to publish the best in contemporary writing and translation from Canada and around the world.

 

The submissions for this competition go through two rounds of blind judging before the final verdict is decided by the final judge, Andreas Schroeder.

Here is the long-list finalists! Congratulations to all writers! What a feat! It is truly an accomplishment to get this far and I am thrilled to be listed amongst these fellow creatives.

– ‘Sans Everything’ by Cullene Bryant

– ‘An Excerpt from Horse Camp’ by Jonarno Lawson

– ‘Queasy’ by Madeline Sonik

– ‘Salt Spring Sprouts n Seeds’ by Stephanie McKechnie

– ‘When you finally know me’ by Trisha Cull

– ‘Nine Bouquets from Nine Sailors’ by Eve Joseph

– ‘People and Cow of Good Fortune’ by Leonard Neufeldt

– ‘I Thought I Knew You Emily’ by Madeline Nattrass

– ‘Click: Immortality’ by David Alexander

– ‘The Skeleton Coast’ by Zara Callmann

– ‘The Breaking Wave’ by Laura Trethewey

– ‘Habibi’ by Maisie Jacobson

– ‘Goodbye and Goodbyes’ by Alexis Marie Chute

– ‘Narrative Supplement’ by Carolyn White

– ‘Vanishing Point’ by Heather Tucker

 

I will put out another Writing Update on Tuesday and Wednesday to announce how the competition plays out!