Day: May 31, 2022

Calling all applied artists and designers, the Carter Wosk Award program is now open for your nominations!

Posted on by bcachievement

Photo: 2021 Awardee, Nick Purcell, furniture designer

The Carter Wosk Award in Applied Art + Design honours excellence in functional art and design. Nominate now for the Carter Wosk Award in Applied Art + Design. Whether nominating yourself or another artist, by recognizing the accomplishments of our province’s artists and designers this annual award program pays tribute to exceptional people, doing exceptional work.  

Janaki Larsen calls herself a potter and a mess maker. But to most of us, she’s an incomparable ceramics artist who creates beautiful plates and bowls that elevate functional items into showpieces. 

Her path, like that of many artists the award recognizes, did not start with a plan to be the artist she is today. “I didn’t want to be a potter and I didn’t want to be a painter since that’s what both of my parents did. So, I went into sculpture which led to signing up for a ceramics class because of a leak in my studio. And I had this idea that I wanted to catch this leak in a vessel that would disintegrate onto itself. I sat down on the wheel on the first day and I thought ‘this actually makes sense to me.” 

Photo: 2021 Awardee, Janaki Larsen, ceramist

Janaki’s work is often described as having an energy to it and that comes from the artist working each piece often until it’s at the brink of collapse, and the marks and imperfections are what makes her work unique. Janaki’s art is innovative, but she defines it as re-using or re-working something that already exists, not necessarily creating something brand new. “Innovation is often thought of as inventing something new, instead of working with what we have. Having a material that you can get from your backyard and turning it into something you can use on a daily basis is very exciting.”  

Making something that hasn’t been created before is both a risk and an innovation. For applied artists and designers, that’s often a risk worth taking. Not just for the art they create, but for the impact it has on their greater community whereby they are able to inspire others to take the risk, to be creative and seek innovation. “One of the most amazing things is for people to be inspired to pursue a career that is not the most guaranteed outcome. It’s an amazing feeling to receive an award like this for something that feels quite personal and to realize it has impacted on a larger scale.” 

To all the makers out there, the vulnerability you show by taking the risk to create is applauded and encouraged. Share your creativity and inspire others through your work. #nominatenow for the 2022 Carter Wosk Award Applied Art and Design. Nominations close July 14 at bcachievement.com

Online nominations are also open for two other BC Achievement award programs. Do you or someone you know, fit any of these categories? If so, nominate now!  

Indigenous Business Award – elevates excellence within Indigenous-owned businesses 

Fulmer Award in First Nations Art – celebrates artistic excellence in traditional and contemporary visual arts by First Nations artists. 

Elevate excellence in BC and nominate a deserving individual or business for one of these awards! Together we can inspire achievement through recognition. #nominatenowbc #bepartofit #elevateexcellence 

BC Achievement: Elevate Excellence. Share Success. Inspire Change.

The Fulmer Award in First Nations Art  program is now open for your nominations! 

Posted on by bcachievement

Photo: 2021 Awardee, James Harry, Dream Weaver, collaborative work with Lauren Brevner

The Fulmer Award in First Nations Art  celebrates artistic excellence in traditional and contemporary visual arts by First Nations artists.  

Nominating an artist for this award program whether it’s a self-nomination or one from a third-party, helps elevate excellence. It raises awareness of the good things happening in our communities and inspires innovation, understanding and leadership. Nominating an artist for this award showcases their ongoing initiative, their dedicated commitment to their practice, their tenacity and their excellence in their chosen field. 

One such person who has demonstrated all of the above is 2021 awardee, Squamis/’Namgis artist, James Harry. His story is one of innovation, commitment, and excellence. James grew up in a home where painting, beading and wood carving were normal activities. He moved out of his family’s home at age 17 going from one dead end job to another until he realized he had to make a change for himself. Applying to Emily Carr University was a defining moment for James and opened the opportunity for him to work with his dad, his mentor, Xwalacktun, OBC also a First Nations Art Award recipient. This allowed him to surround himself with art again.  

Photo: 2021 Awardee, James Harry

After years of mentoring, learning and creating, James’ art is celebrated as innovative; he’s translated First Nations art into modern forms, using technology to render drawings, and hiring fabricators to create distinctive art he now creates. “I decided to go into public art because a lot of our land is unceded territory. I really want every piece to be about our ways of thinking.” His large-scale bodies of works can be seen throughout Greater Vancouver – reflecting First nations stories, bringing people together through shared teachings and building understanding. “We’re at a really exciting time right now for Coast Salish Art to be recognized in our city bringing the conversation of Coast Salish art to the forefront.” 

James Harry knows the value of receiving the Fulmer Award in First Nations Art and how that can help inspire others to pursue their dreams. 

“We must continue to inspire the next generation of Indigenous people to pursue their dreams. Showcasing people who took risks and followed their passion will continue to inspire the future generations to do the same.” 

Nominate now for the Fulmer Award in First Nations Art! Nominations are open until July 7, 2022 at bcachievement.com 

Online nominations are also open for two other BC Achievement award programs. Do you or someone you know fit any of these categories? If so, nominate now!  

Indigenous Business Award – elevates excellence within Indigenous-owned businesses 

Carter Wosk Award in Applied Art + Design – honours excellence in functional art and design  

Elevate excellence in BC and nominate a deserving individual or business for one of these awards! Together we can inspire achievement through recognition. #nominatenowbc #bepartofit #elevateexcellence 

BC Achievement: Elevate Excellence. Share Success. Inspire Change.

Honour Indigenous innovation and reclamation: nominations are now open for the 2022 Indigenous Business Award program!

Posted on by bcachievement

Photo: 2021 Awardee, Elijah Mack, Kekuli Cafe Merritt

“Innovation isn’t always about creating new things. Innovation sometimes involves looking back to our old ways and bringing them forward to this new situation.”   The Honourable Murray Sinclair, OC  

Nominate Now!

Indigenous Business Award (IBA) program alumni have long demonstrated strength and resilience while defining their unique styles of entrepreneurship whether it’s as a youth awardee or a repeat awardee.  

Photo: IBA program alumnus, Jacob Beaton, Tea Creek

The incredible journey of the program’s first youth entrepreneur recipient is one such example. Jacob Beaton now leads the work at Tea Creek – whose mission is to ‘is to revitalize the culture of economic interdependence and food production that was a central part of life for Indigenous peoples throughout the Americas’. 

Photo: IBA program alumnae, Carol Anne Hilton, Indigenomics Institute

2013 Outstanding Business Achievement and 2020 Award of Distinction recipient, Carol Anne Hilton whose Indigenomics Institute may have launched as a hashtag but has since evolved into a progressive movement, creating space while propelling Indigenous entrepreneurs to activate the financial architecture of the $100 billion-dollar annual Indigenous economy.

Photo: IBA program alumnae, Inez Cook, Salmon ‘n Bannock

Fellow 2013 alumnae Inez Cook and her outstanding restaurant Salmon ‘n Bannock has been leading the way in the food industry for over a decade, reclaiming Indigenous culinary heritage and recently receiving the Georgia Straight’s Golden Plates 2022 recognition. In 2018, Kukpi7 (Wenecwtsin) Wayne Christian accepted the IBA on behalf of Yucwmenlécwu (Caretakers of the Land) and shared the importance of reconnecting tomorrow’s generations with the cultural practices of the past and the need to walk in two worlds: 

“You’ve got the western science on one side and, on the other side, is our own science, or traditional knowledge…and you need an understanding of both so that the balance is there all the time.  We cannot forget that the knowledge of the land is thousands of years old.”

Photo: IBA program alumnus, Kukpi7 Wayne Christian, Yucwmenlécwu, Caretakers of the Land

Indigenous entrepreneurs are leading the way in developing new approaches to business achievement, reclaiming their heritage and practices, supporting their communities and carving a path forward for others to follow.  

June 1 marks the opening of the 2022 Call for Nominations for the Indigenous Business Award (IBA) program. Now in its 14th annual celebration, the program boasts over 200 outstanding models of Indigenous business excellence. Help tell the stories of the reclamation of exceptional Indigenous business practices and achievement throughout the province. The online nomination form is open and BC Achievement staff is ready to assist with the process.  #Nominatenowbc 

2022 Indigenous Business Award Gala is BACK!! 

BC Achievement looks forward to welcoming the recipients and guests to the 2022 Indigenous Business Award Gala planned for late November in Vancouver. Please stay tuned for more details about the return of this long awaited in person celebration! 

BC Achievement: Elevate Excellence. Share Success. Inspire Change.