Artist emerges and wins $5,000 at festival

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Out of 320 entries by 56 Native artists, Kim McLain emerged as this year's winner of the Asum Mena Alberta Native Art Festival and received an award of $5,000.

McLain was last year's runner-up in the contest which is sponsored by the Alberta Indian Arts and Crafts Society in Edmonton.

The winning piece was a bold, impressionistic depiction (which McLain refers to as representational art) entitled 'Victoria May,' an acrylic painting on paper creation.

Expressing surprise and delight with his good fortune, McLain says he intends to apply the scholarship to further develop his artistic talents. He hopes to use his windfall to get some private tutoring, especially in the area of color theory.

"I use color a lot," he explained, adding that he has been reading books on how the masters use color in their art. He has also been doing a lot of experimenting with color and broadening his own abilities and knowledge through trial and error.

"I would really benefit from someone who is really knowledgeable on theory and I want to get to the point where I can use color as a tool to better put my message across," he added.

One thing McLain feels disappointed about is that today's (art) masters seldom take on apprentices. He says such cases are "very rare."

The director of the arts and crafts society, Lois MacLellan, informed Windspeaker that McLain's work will be featured in all their promotions for the 4th Annual Juried Alberta Native Arts Festival.

Last year, she said, about half of the art pieces exhibited were sold at the opening reception and she anticipates a high interest level again this year.

MacLellan also mentioned that Canadian Airlines magazine plan to do a two-page feature on the festival and on McLain's work for their September issue. That will add to the exposure of the festival and McLain in that the magazine has a worldwide readership of approximately eight million people.

Farron Callihoo was first runner up with 'The Dream'. His share of the winnings amounts to a $1,000 gift certificate for art supplies.

Second runner up, Marilyn Fraser-King, who's magnificent painting on canvas is entitled 'The Lats Battle Cry,' was awarded $500.

An additional award of $500 went to Murray Ashley for his carving of 'Windigo.' The entry was submitted in a newly created, three-dimensional category and is a wooden mask embellished with moosehair tufting and beadwork.

Although there were no other cash winners, honorable mentions went to several contestants: Sam Warrior, George Littlechild, Maurice Louison, Bruce Omeasoo, Gerri Stonechild, Alex Desjarlais, urray Ashley, Melvyn Benson, Lauren Wuttunee and Anita Lee Fisher.

Judges for the juried works included prominent artists Alex Janvier and Harry Savage, Front Gallery proprietor Lynn Fahlman and Phyllis Matousek of the Edmonton Journal.

From the overall entries, 170 have been selected for exhibition and sale during August at The Front Gallery, 12302 Jasper Avenue in Edmonton. This exhibit will also include the works of such noted Native artistics as Alex Janvier, Roy Salopree, Jane Ash Poitras and Joanne Cardinal-Schubert.

Asum Mena is the Cree word for 'once again.'