Audain Winners - 2013
Gathie Falk, Michael Audain and Takao Tanabe at the Audain Prize ceremony - April 4, 2013
It was standing room only at the Great Hall of the BC Law Courts to watch veteran BC artists Gathie Falk and Takao Tanabe receive the prestigious prize, which honours a lifetime achievement in art.
More than 200 people attended the event.
In his speech to mark the 10th anniversary of the prize, Michael Audain spoke about a decade of celebrating great BC artists, and added "there is one more step we need to take to properly honour these artists. That is - to have a new Vancouver Art Gallery big enough to display their work on a permanent basis."
In her speech to accept the award, 86-year old Gathie Falk talked how long it takes to get a lifetime achievement award in art. She told a story about her artwork starting when she was 2 or 3, in her mother's lap. "There has been a lot of work in my lifetime, and so you might say 'hang up your runners and rest.' It is time to leave off, move over. Well, no. I got a couple of paintings into my head as we crossed Burrard Inlet on Tuesday, looking down from the helicopter... and I have two series of paintings in the studio needing much attention and, and, and. Could there be an award called After-Life Achievement?"
Also celebrated - VIVA Award winner Elizabeth McIntosh and Balkind Prize winner Helga Pakasaar.