CITY ARTS
Some big names in this category. Well, two anyway. But a lot of the remainder are big in their own way. Maybe not world famous, but some have attracted national and even international attention. And they're known and appreciated in their home community. The votes you gave them are proof of that.
BEST ARTIST (TRADITIONAL)
ROBERTO LOPEZ LOPEZ
Not a hugely well-known name in local art circles, Lopez Lopez did the mural on the partition that's been erected in front of the Regina Inn while it undergoes renovation. Did the press coverage that endeavour received tip the scales in his favour? If we were a rich media conglomerate, we'd commission a poll and find out. But we're not, so we won't. If you've seen the mural, you'll know it's pretty colourful and energetic. To find out more about Lopez Lopez, I visited his website. Captioned at the top are the words "From the Heart of Mexico to the Land of Living Skies". In his bio, Lopez Lopez describes himself as "free spirit". Born in Guadalajara, he grew up in Pala Alto, CA. Love brought him to Regina, and once here he discovered a passion for art, and that's his focus now. /GB
BEST ARTIST (NEW MEDIA)
TURNER PRIZE*
This category probably wasn't a huge vote-getter. Most people, I think, understand what a traditional artist is. But New Media? What the hell's that? Well, it's a hodge-podge of newer technologies like video and digital imaging, and non-traditional art forms like installation, audio art and multi-media performance. Now that that's cleared up, I'll tell you about Turner Prize*. They're a three-piece collective whose members - Jason Cawood, Blair Fornwald and John Hampton - each bring a special skill to the group (photography and film, performance and multi-media respectively). They use an asterisk to distinguish themselves from the prestigious British art prize of the same name. They won this category last year, and they've just returned from a tour where they performed Invocation of the Hidden Secret, a ritualized dreaming ceremony, at art festivals in Edmonton and Vancouver and an artist-run gallery in Victoria. /GB
BEST PUBLIC ART GALLERY
MACKENZIE
3475 Albert St.
584-4250
It's a flagship cultural organization in Regina, there's no doubt about that. On Oct. 15, it held its annual gala art auction. Riffing on Heavy Metal & Hard Rock, a sculptural exhibition currently on display, the fundraiser had a rock 'n' roll theme. Tickets were $100. Not hugely expensive, but probably out of the reach of a lot of art community members who tend to subsist on pretty meager incomes. But while the gallery does have a "high society" side to it, it also has free admission, and has worked really hard over the last couple of decades to develop out-reach programs to encourage involvement in visual art by inner-city youth and people in remote rural communities. That's the magic of the MacKenzie. Its programming mandate is broad enough that it appeals to everyone and makes them feel welcome when they visit. / GB
BEST COMMERCIAL ART GALLERY
ASSINIBOIA
2266 Smith St.
522-0997
In 2012, the Assiniboia Gallery will celebrate its 35th year of operation in Regina. It used to be located on 11th Ave. near Albert St. Under Mary and Jeremy Weimer, who took over the operation from the founding Kurtz family, the gallery moved to a renovated house in the Transition Area in 2007. Currently on display is an exhibition of landscape paintings by Gordon Lewis called Autumn Transitions. Other well-known artists represented by the gallery include Angela Morgan, Darlene Hay, Erica Grimm-Vance and Catherine Perehudoff. If you're in the market for some original art for your home or business, stop by the gallery. Tell them prairie dog readers sent you. /GB
BEST ART EXHIBIT
ED PIEN: HAVEN OF DELIGHT
I voted for this exhibit. I also reviewed it when it was on at the Dunlop in May. Is that cheating?
If you happened to see it, you doubtlessly remember it. Haven Of Delight consisted of a spiral labyrinth hung from the ceiling that viewers could enter and explore. It was made of hand-cut paper, and had incised images of plants and animals that evoked (for me, anyway) thoughts of a tropical jungle during the daytime and at night.
To me, the installation was both delightful and somewhat unnerving. Of course, I did see it at night. And after I left Central Library, I walked to my home on the Scarth St. mall via 12th Ave. I'd be exaggerating to compare it to an urban jungle, but with all the construction that was then going on, it was pretty desolate. So that may have coloured my thinking on the show somewhat. Regardless, great choice, prairie dog readers! /GB
BEST AUTHOR
GAIL BOWEN
It's no mystery why prairie dog readers love Gail Bowen. Actually, it is a mystery - or, more accurately, a mystery series, that's captured their fancy. The feature character is Joanne Kilbourn. A Regina-based academic, Kilbourn is an amateur detective who, during the course of a 12-book run, has found herself in all sorts of personal and professional predicaments that require her to call on her considerable sleuthing skills to solve all sorts of heinous crimes. According to Gale's website, readers can expect a new book - the 13th in the series! - in April. It'll be published by McClelland & Stewart, and be called Kaleidoscope. /GB
BEST POET
PATRICK SWAN
Patrick won this category last year too. In the blurb he wrote on him Aidan Morgan made an allusion to iconic beat poet Allen Ginsberg and his masterful 1956 poem Howl. It begins with the words: I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by//madness, starving hysterical naked//dragging themselves through the negro streets at dawn//looking for an angry fix. As a performance poet, Patrick's held his own on concert bills with local indie rock bands. And for a poet, that's no easy feat. So props to him for getting the word out. And good luck with your performance at Artesian on 13th on Nov. 1 with Northcote and Andy Shauf. /GB
BEST DANCE STUDIO
FADA DANCE
I couldn't dance if my life depended on it (or maybe "wouldn't dance" is a better way to put it). But if I ever did overcome my reluctance, and even practiced a bit, I still don't think I'd develop mad dancing skillz. Not like the three principals behind FadaDance. Misty Wensel, Heather Cameron and Fran Gilboy are best known for the dance performance parties they throw at the Exchange each year around Winter and Summer Solstice. And their annual feature performance at the Cathedral Village Arts Festival. And all the classes they teach for dancers young and not-so-young. And the men's dance troupe they formed called FadaMen. And the fire-dancing they do. And the experimental theatre/dance works they've presented at the Globe as part of the Shumiatcher Sandbox series. In 2009, they did A Spoon We Are Not. And next April, Fran, Misty and Heather will portray a trio of wacky maidens in House of Three. /GB
BEST LOCAL FILM MAKER
JARRETT RUSNAK
I don't know Jarrett personally, but a quick trip to his website reveals that he's President and CEO of Dacian Productions. Born and raised in Regina, Jarrett's been working in the TV and film industry since 1995. He describes himself as a writer, director and producer, and some of his credits include the 13-part documentary crime series InJustice; an hour-long documentary on the deepening of Wascana Lake in 2004 called, naturally enough, The Big Dig; a two-season documentary series called Prairie Gardens; and he was executive producer on David Geiss's 2009 documentary on '70s era Saskatchewan gay activist Doug Wilson. On his website, Jarrett says he looks forward to the unexpected. Don't know if this award qualifies as unexpected or not, but congrats nonetheless. /GB
BEST LIVE THEATRE PRODUCTION
A CLOSER WALK WITH PATSY CLINE @ GLOBE THEATRE
"I go out walking after midnight//Out in the moonlight, just like we used to do//I'm always walking after midnight, searching for you". Nuff said. / GB
BEST ARTS & CULTURE BEHIND THE SCENES MASTERMIND
MARIAN DONNELLY
If you're a regular reader you should know who Marian Donnelly is. We've only interviewed her a gazillion times. Of course, most of the articles were on a topic of import in the arts, and we realize that's not a huge area of interest for many Reginans. Regardless, we do it anyway because we think the arts are important. Marian's the driving force behind Creative City Centre, an arts incubator that opened at 1843 Hamilton in May above Loggie's Shoes. What makes Marian different from other movers and shakers in the arts is that she's got an MBA, and she's really keen to help artists develop savvy business skills so they can survive in their chosen profession. If you haven't seen the space, the Regina Fashion Collective is hosting a soiree Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. /GB
