Edmonton artist's work wins - twice

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An Edmonton artist has reason to be proud of her accomplishments. Nancy Desjarlais Bailey has just been awarded first and third place in the Peace Hills Trust Eleventh Annual Native Art Contest.

"I was very surprised," said Bailey. "I didn't think the piece that won, would, because of the title."

The piece entitled My Mother's Pain is my Pain was created last summer. Bailey was going through a period in her life when she was thinking about personal emotions and legacies and how they are handed from one generation to another.

"In a different frame of mind it might have been entitled My Mother's Laughter is My Laughter."

Bailey, mother of three, graduated last June from the University of Alberta where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts. She describes herself as a contemporary artist who does "mostly exploratory work."

She produces most of her work spontaneously.

"Through the artwork that comes, I can analyze my own psyche," she said.

The other point that Bailey made was that entering this contest way a way to challenge herself, not to compete with other artists.

She submitted five pieces. One of her other pieces, which came in third, was titled Subterranean Source Revisited. The piece "dealt with myths and origins, culture and symbols." Bailey has a strong interest in symbols and finds herself drawn to learn even more.

She hopes to earn a living exclusively through her artwork, which she sells by word of mouth, renting tables at events such as Dreamspeakers and the Folk Festival, and through art galleries.

The Peace Hills Trust Annual Art Contest encourages Native artists throughout Canada by providing an opportunity to promote their work. As the winning entry, Bailey's work will be featured on the 1993 Peace Hills Trust Calendar.

The other winning pieces will become a part of the Peace Hills Trust Native Art Collection.