Tuesday, February 28, 2012, 10 a.m.
TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
“Throughout their careers, the 2012 winners of the Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts have surprised, touched and inspired us,” stated His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada. “Let us celebrate these Canadian artists whose creativity and talent we can all be proud of.”
“Artists are alchemists, and the 2012 Governor General’s Visual and Media Arts laureates are masters at transforming everyday experience into gold,” said Robert Sirman, Director and CEO of the Canada Council for the Arts. “These awards celebrate artists who have played a key role in shaping the Canada of today, and who continue to have a lasting and positive impact on our culture.”
Robert Sirman, Director and CEO of the Canada Council, presented the awards
Canada Council for the Arts honours eight Canadian greats for the 2012 Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts. They are:
Margaret Dragu, Performance artist, Vancouver/Richmond. Photo: Canada Council for the Arts / Martin Lipman
Margaret Dragu, Pillowbook, Lady Justice channeling Mary Magdalene for a projection-performance about AIDS, guilt, and fear, at Bain St-Michel, co-produced by Viva! Art! Action! and International Sex Festivals (ISF), organized by Andre Eric Letourneau and Articule, Montreal 2006. Photo: Guy L’Heureux.
Geoffrey James, Photographer, Toronto. Photo: Canada Council for the Arts / Martin Lipman
Geoffrey James, Partial View of the United States-Mexico Border with Otay Mesa, San Diego County, in the Foreground and Mesa de Otay. Tijuana, in the Background, 1997, gelatin silver print, 46.1 x 57.9 cm. Collection of the artist
Charles Lewton-Brain, Artist-goldsmith, Saidye Bronfman Award, Calgary. Photo: Canada Council for the Arts / Martin Lipman
Charles Lewton-Brain, Scored disc, 1987, sterling silver, 18k doublee, 9 x 4.5 x 1 cm. Photo courtesy of the artist
Ron Martin, Visual artist, Toronto. Photo: Canada Council for the Arts / Martin Lipman
Ron Martin, To Foil Oils, Phase III, 1997,Winsor & Newton oils on canvas, 76.2 x 55.9 cm. Photo: courtesy of Christopher Cutts Gallery
Diana Nemiroff, Art gallery director and curator, Outstanding Contribution, Ottawa. Photo: Canada Council for the Arts / Martin Lipman
Diana Nemiroff. Crossings. Ottawa: National Gallery of Canada, 1998.
Jan Peacock, Visual artist – media and installation, Halifax. Photo: Canada Council for the Arts / Martin Lipman
Jan Peacock, The Road Rises to Meet You, 1986, installation detail. Photo: Douglas Curran
Royden Rabinowitch, Sculptor, Waterloo. Photo: Canada Council for the Arts / Martin Lipman
Royden Rabinowitch, Judgment on the Keplerian Revolution, 1983, steel, three surfaces, each surface: 60 x 300 x 150 cm. Furkapasshöhe, The Swiss Alps
Jana Sterbak, Visual artist, Montréal. Photo: Canada Council for the Arts / Martin Lipman
Jana Sterbak, Acteon at Home, colour photograph, 38 x 25 cm. Photo: ©Jana Sterbak
In addition to a $25,000 prize from the Canada Council, the winners each received a special issue medallion sponsored by the Royal Canadian Mint.
