Sculpturewalk Gala sets stage for new heights of artistic awesomeness

By Kyra Hoggan

More than 100 people showed up to the Element Saturday night for the Sixth Annual Sculpturewalk Awards Gala announcing the 2015 winners.

Regeneration, by Argnenta artists Spring Shine and Christopher Petersen, was the big winner out of 32 contenders, taking home the coveted People’s Choice Award. This sculpture will now be purchased for $15,000 and remain in the city’s permanent collection. (To watch a You Tube video of the making of the sculpture, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKSEjvkH7c4 ).

The full Awards List is as follows:

People’s Choice Awards:

1)      $15,000 (sculpture purchase) + $3000 cash = “Regeneration” by Spring Shine & Christopher Petersen (Argenta, BC)

2)      $1500 = “V Formation” by Nathan Smith (Nelson, BC)

3)      $500 = “Beaver” by Dale Lewis (Hastings, Minnesota)

Artist Merit Awards:

1)      $3000 = “V Formation” by Nathan Smith (Nelson, BC)

2)      $1500 = “Regeneration” by Spring Shine & Christopher Petersen (Argenta, BC)

3)      $500 = “Emma by the River” by Betty Branch (Roanoke, Virginia)

“I feel it was a big success, and that the winner of the People’s Choice Award was very well-received,” said Sculpturewalk executive director Joy Barrett, adding it was icing on the cake that the winning artists happened to be local. “It’s so nice to see this caliber of art coming from our region.”

She said contenders came from as far away as Iran, Cuba and Australia this year – and we’re already getting entries for next year from Russia, Kazakhstan, Instanbul, Norway, Malta …

“Each year, the number of entries increases significantly,” she said. “That’s doesn’t necessarily mean the program will get much bigger – it means we can be more selective, focussing on quality rather than quantity.”

Goals for 2016 include:

·         Working with the newly-created Destination Marketing Organization to market Castlegar;

·         StoryMap: create an online Sculpturewalk Public Art tour App;

·         Merchandising: calendars, t-shirts, postcards, fridge magnets, posters;

·         Increase Regional Municipal Lease Partnerships; Confirmed: Nelson (5), Rossland (1) Presentations at Trail, Creston, Kaslo and New Denver;

·         Increase Sales (vital to ongoing artist participation);

·         Increase Sponsorship – increased 26% in 2015, looking to increase again in 2016. Strong support from local businesses who value what we do;

·         Work to secure stable, longterm core funding.