The Parkland Regional Artist Development Opportunity, or PRADO, is currently in its second year, allowing artists from the Parkland region to exhibit their work and learn more about creating art. This year, it was hosted in Yorkton, at the Godfrey Dean Art Gallery.
During the weekend, adjudicators Timothy Long, Head Curator of the MacKenzie Art Gallery and Bruce Anderson, Collections Manager from the MacKenzine Art Gallery, examined the work, giving personal critiques to each artist on the quality of the work and what they can do while creating art in the future. The adjucation had a second purpose as well, selecting the person who would be chosen as the grand prize winner for PRADO.
This year's winner of the Parkland Arts Award was Crystal Thorburn. She won for a series of interactive boxes, meant to simulate the act of peeking through a crack in the wall of an old house.
"My inspiration came from an old photograph that my grandmother had. Because I grew up on a farm, I've been around old buildings and rural life, and when you go up to an old building, the first thing you try to do is look in. Every building has a story to tell," Thorburn says.
The boxes, which contain photographs, negatives, and materials which might have been present in an older house, are designed to transport the viewer to a different place, Thorburn explains.
"I wanted to create a space in time, where you could look back in time, and imagine what it might be like in that place,"
One aspect of the work is that there are flashlights provided, and there are details which would be otherwise invisible without light shone on them. Thorburn says that these details were included because, in life, not everything is immediately apparent.
Thorburn says she is honored to be receive the first place price, especially among the 24 local artists who were also part of the weekend.
"It's a little overwhelming, just because there are so many great pieces of artwork in this exhibition, there are lots that deserve to be in this position," Thorburn says.
As the winner of the Parkland Arts Award, Thorburn receives a package worth $1,000 in cash and resources. The award includes a solo exhibition in each of the three partner communities. Second place went to Devin Wilger, and third to Shannon Yashcheshen.
Don Stein, director of the Godfrey Dean Art Gallery, sees the PRADO?program as being an invigorating force for the art community in the region.
"I think it's really energizing, you can really feel the buzz in the room, and it brings together a lot of new people," says Stein.
The artwork from all artists who entered will be displayed in the Godfrey Dean Art Gallery during June. Admission is free.
