Kriss Munsya (courtesy Salt Spring National Art Prize)
Vancouver-based Belgian and Congolese artist Kriss Munsya won this year’s top $20,000 award from the Salt Spring National Art Prize for his photograph Dreams Tonite. Highway Reflections, The Eraser. He was also awarded a residency valued at $5,000.
Munsya’s work deals with race, gender and identity.
“People may not understand that being an activist is not always about being on the front lines,” says Munsya. “Sometimes, being an activist can be about buying art or producing art or making art possible, or organizing art exhibitions. So in fact, we can all be activists.”
The Salt Spring National Art Prize, held every two years, celebrates original and creative work from across Canada. This year, $41,000 was awarded, including four $3,000 Juror’s Choice prizes.
Kriss Munsya, “Dreams Tonite. Highway Reflections, The Eraser,” 2020, digital photograph, c-print, 43.75″ x 35″ (courtesy Salt Spring National Art Prize)
Virginia Morgan, from Hazleton, B.C., won for her birch mask, Raven Steals the Sun. Morgan is of Kwakwaka’wakw and Gitksan descent. Her work was selected by juror Judy Anderson, a professor of Canadian Indigenous studio art at the University of Calgary.
Juror David Diviney, senior curator at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, selected Klehwetua Rodney Sayers’ sculpture Hot Rod Pink for a juror’s award. Sayers is a member of the Hupacasath First Nation and is based in Port Alberni, B.C.
Calgary-based artist Jacqueline Huskisson won for her print Shock. Her work was chosen by juror Ydessa Hendeles, a Toronto artist, curator and philanthropist.
Juror Michelle Jacques, chief curator of the Remai Modern in Saskatoon, chose Brampton, Ont., artist Sherry Park’s painting Lunch for a juror's choice award.
Three People’s Choice Awards were given out. First prize went to Erin Stagg of Prince George, B.C., for her painting Métis Pride. She was awarded $3,000. Second prize and $2,000 went to Charles Choi of Whitby, Ont., for his painting, Seize the Moment. Third prize and $1,000 went to Michael NF Cywink of Ingersoll, Ont., for his painting, The Return.
The $1,000 Youth People's Choice Award went to David Gluck from Duncan, B.C., for his painting Still Water.
The $2,000 Salt Spring Artist Award, for an artist from the island, went to Connie Kuhns for her photograph, Canadian Farmhouse 1.
Winning works will be exhibited from Jan. 12 to Feb. 12 at the Victoria Arts Council and from Feb. 14 to March 11 at the Pendulum Gallery in Vancouver.
Source: Salt Spring National Art Prize