Salt Spring National Art Prize (SSNAP) Announced Winners

The winners of the inaugural Salt Spring National Art Prize (SSNAP) have been announced. SSNAP artworks had to show significant impact and depth of meaning, pushing boundaries and creating conversation, bringing context to cultural issues both local and global. 

Representing the best of contemporary work from across Canada, eight artists received awards from Eastern and Western Canada.

The “Joan McConnell Award” for Best in Show went to 38-year old Winnipeg, Manitoba artist, Corrie Peters, for her 3D sculpture work,  The award includes a $10,000 cash prize and $5,000 artist residency on Salt Spring Island, BC.

Peters was surprised to learn she had won, “I was astonished and very excited to win for my piece. I was truly at a point where I felt, if this piece can’t do it there’s no point in entering it for awards.” Her labour intensive work took her over a year to create, “The knitted piece alone took seven months, building the wooden structure and also retrieving the front door of my childhood home by returning to the farm where I was born in Boissevain, Manitoba, was all time intensive.” 

Peters’ work documents how she engages with and translates the topic of multi-generational poverty, as she writes in her artist statement, “My socially engaged practice can be understood as working to rebuild doors whose removal increases vulnerability and removes dignity.”

SSNAP founding director, Ronald T. Crawford says the show has struck a cord right across Canada, “We are delighted with the amazing success of the exhibition. On a national level the show incorporates all types of art, all mediums, all styles and all characteristics. The response has been overwhelmingly positive here and across the country and the arrival of a new Canadian Art Prize bodes well for the contemporary art scene in Canada.”

The independent, three-member jury preselected 52 finalists, who were anonymous to the jury. The prestigious jury, who showcased the exhibition, chose the winning works in person. The jurors included, curator Vicky Chainey Gagnon (The Rooms, St. John's, NL), artist/educator Holger Kalberg (University of Winnipeg) and Salt Spring painter and former art instructor, (UBC) Ian Thomas.

Salt Spring National Art Prize Awards as follows:

Best in Show The “Joan McConnell Award” of $10,000, plus a Salt Spring artist residency to the value of $5,000.

  • Winner: Winnipeg, Manitoba artist, Corrie Peters for “Building (All the rooming houses on my street have had their front door removed),” laser cut paper and sewing thread.

Juror’s Choice Awards, three awards of $1,000 selected by each juror.

  • Quebec City, Quebec artist, Annie Baillargeon, “Les cannibals.” 2D photographie/peinture: Juror Vicky Chainey Gagnon.
  • Vancouver, BC artist, Jessie McNeil, “Lunch Break in Les Tuileries.” 2D collage on paper: Juror Holger Kalberg.
  • Vancouver, BC, artist, M.E. Sparks, “We'd Like To Help.” 2D oil and acrylic on canvas: Juror Ian Thomas.

ASA Award (Alliance of Salt Spring Artists) $1,000 for best Salt Spring artist.

  • Susan Huber, “Wild Horse Wind Farm.” 2D Image.

Rosemarie Behncke People’s Choice Awards with a 1st Prize of $3,000, 2nd Prize of $2,000 and 3rd Prize of $1,000.

  • 1st Prize: Salt Spring, BC artist, Nicola Wheston, “Tailgate Party.” 2D oil on canvas.
  • 2nd Prize: Yellowknife, NT artist, Patricia Slighte, “Changes.” 2D ink on paper.
  • 3rd Prize: Vancouver, BC artist, Eric Button, “The Death of Mr. Wolf.” 2D ink on paper.

About SSNAP:

To recognize, showcase and publicize the accomplishments of Canadian visual art, Salt Spring Island, BC has established the Salt Spring National Art Prize (SSNAP), one of the few national, juried competitions in the country. In this inaugural year, SSNAP is offering $25,000 worth of awards, chosen by an independent jury from across Canada. This exciting endeavour is an initiative of the Salt Spring Arts Council, which represents the arts for Salt Spring Island, one of Canada’s premier arts communities.