Premier Honours Creative Achievement Award Winners

September 21, 2009

VANCOUVER - Four B.C. artists were honoured by Premier Gordon Campbell and Keith Mitchell, chair of the British Columbia Achievement Foundation, at the fifth annual BC Creative Achievement Awards held today at The Studios at Shaw Tower in Vancouver.

"Today we celebrate the creative achievements of four outstanding designers whose work in jewellery, ceramics, furniture and industrial design are not only beautiful, but have practical applications as well," said Premier Campbell. "Their artistic excellence demonstrates that the creative spirit continues to flourish in British Columbia."

Karl Stittgen, acclaimed Vancouver jewellery designer and goldsmith, was named the latest recipient of the BC Creative Achievement Award of Distinction, honouring his lifetime of creative vision and innovation.

"Tonight, we are very pleased to announce that the juried awards are being financially supported for the next five years by BC philanthropist, academic and visionary Dr. Yosef Wosk," said Mitchell, "Dr. Wosk's generosity ensures that creative excellence in the BC applied art and design field will continue to be recognized in the province." Mitchell also announced that the award will now carry the name The Carter Wosk British Columbia Creative Achievement Award for Applied Art and Design, named in honour of Yosef Wosk and Sam Carter, BC educator, designer and curator.

The three artists recognized as recipients of this year's juried awards are:

Judson Beaumont - produces imaginative furniture pieces including designs and products utilizing wood from BC's mountain pine beetle forests;

Robert Johnston - creates compelling and engaging products and experiences through a strategic balance of business, science and art;

Lilach Lotan - specializes in wheel-thrown porcelain lighting, utilizing the purity of porcelain in fresh and contemporary design.

Examples of the artists' work were on display at the awards presentation and will be featured in a showcase exhibited at the Vancouver Airport Authority. These recipients each received a $2,500 prize and were granted the use of the BC Creative Achievement Award seal, signifying creative excellence.

An independent jury chaired by board member Dr. Robert Belton, Dean of Creative and Critical Studies at UBC Okanagan, selected the recipients. The jury was comprised of Sam Carter, artist, craft and design educator, and associate professor at the Emily Carr University of Art + Design; Alex Feldman, partner, Form3 Design; Lubos Culen, Curator, Vernon Public Art Gallery: and Tony Martin, executive director, Comox Valley Art Gallery.

The British Columbia Achievement Foundation is an independent foundation established and endowed by the Province of B.C. in 2003 to celebrate excellence in the arts, humanities, enterprise and community service. The Creative Achievement Awards are one of six initiatives of the foundation. The others are the BC Community Achievement Awards; the BC National Award for Canadian Non-Fiction; the BC Creative Achievement Award for Aboriginal Art; and Time to Read: the BC Achievement Award for Early Literacy.


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Contact: Bridgitte Anderson
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
250-307-7177

Contact: Nora Newlands
British Columbia Achievement Foundation
604-261-3348

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