Luther Konadu Wins Salt Spring National Art Prize

Konadu’s win leads the array of awards offered by the Salt Spring National Art Prize. In all, 10 awards totalling $39,000 were presented at an event on Salt Spring Island on Saturday.

The other awards presented this weekend include some juror’s choice awards: three $3,000 awards, each selected by a juror. Artists Kaley Flowers of Toronto, Audie Murray of Victoria and Skawennati of Montreal won based on judgments from Meigs, Balzer and turions, respectively.

A people’s choice award based on visitors’ votes at the prize exhibition went to Tony Luciani of Durham ($3,000), Steven Volpe of Orangeville ($2,000) and Tim Alfred of Port Hardy ($1,000). A youth people’s choice award went to Erika Dueck of St. Pierre ($1,000).

Outstanding work by a Salt Spring artist provided a prize of $2,000 and went to Carol Narod. The Salt Spring Island Painters Guild Award, valued at $1,000, went to Atefeh Baradaran of Vancouver.

The Salt Spring National Art Prize is an initiative of the Salt Spring Arts Council and is now in its third year. Based on artwork submissions from across the country, the prize aims “to encourage artists whose practice demonstrates originality, quality, integrity and creativity, resulting in significant work with visual impact and depth of meaning,” says a release.