Presenting The Nominees For The 9th Annual Arty Awards

The Abbotsford Arts Council is proud to present the nominees for the 9th Annual Arty Awards! These prestigious awards honour individuals who have achieved excellence in their art as well as youth artists and arts advocates who have contributed significantly to the arts scene in the Abbotsford community.

We will celebrate the accomplishments of each nominee at the 9th Annual Arty Awards on Friday, April 12, 2013, in the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium. In addition to the awards presentations, the evening’s celebration will include a catered reception, cash bar, and silent auction. Attendees will also enjoy some fabulous entertainment including a performance by Abbotsford’s Mayor Bruce Banman!

Tickets are now available for pre-purchase online at artyawards.eventbrite.ca or at the Kariton Art Gallery, located at 2387 Ware Street in Abbotsford.

Congratulations to all of the 2013 Arty Award Nominees from the Abbotsford Arts Council!

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to learn more about the nominees over the next few weeks.

Arty Awards nominees are individuals who have achieved excellence in their art as well as youth artists and arts advocates who have contributed significantly to the arts scene in the Abbotsford community.

The 9th Annual Arty Awards Nominees are (by category):

Performing Arts – Music
Jared Fowler, Singer/Songwriter
Kristal Barrett, Singer/Songwriter
Savannah Quinn, Singer/Songwriter

Performing Arts – Theatre
Eileen Deros, Theatre Rehearsal/Orchestral Pianist
Lynne Karey McKenna, Actress/Director

Performing Arts – Dance
Jason & Crystal Warner (Suburban Swing), Dance Instructors
Mary Boonstra, Dance Instructor/Choreographer

Visual Arts – 2-Dimensional
Betty Johnston, Photographer
Cristal Sawatzky, Photographer
Jason Brown, Photographer
Joy Roberts, Artist/Art Instructor, Multiple Mediums
Tyson Lessing, Photographer

Visual Arts – 3-Dimensional
Adrian Renkers, Stained Glass Artist
Jonas Melan, Wood Sculptor
Kaleigh Ross, (BC Teen Challenge Women’s Centre), Jewelry Artist
Leslie Easte, Jewelry Artist
Lonnie Jackson, Fused Glass Artist

Visual Arts – Video/Film
Paul Lowey (Gloo Studios), Executive Producer
Win Wachsmann, Director/Screenwriter/Producer

Literary Arts
Emily Isaacson, Poet
Heidi Turner, Freelance Writer
Jim Williams, English Teacher/Novelist
Paul Falardeau, Poet
Theresa Chevalier, Novelist

Arts Advocate
Deesh Sekhon, Owner, Deesh Photography
Grace Tsurumaru, Professor of Visual Arts, University of the Fraser Valley
Hannah Celinski, Dancer/Arts Educator
Kat Wahamaa, Artist/Activist
Milt Walker, Chair, The Reach Gallery Museum
Tamaka Fisher, Arts & Heritage Coordinator, City of Abbotsford

Outstanding Youth Artist – Elementary School, All Genres
Rachel Fristzke – Painter/Clay Sculptor

Outstanding Youth Artist – Secondary School, All Genres
Maddison Wilson, Photographer
Mila Djordjevic, 2-D Visual Artist, Multiple Mediums
Patrick Schweers, Actor
Tiera Murray, 2-D Visual Artist, Multiple Mediums

Outstanding Artist, Post-Secondary School, All Genres
Chrissy Courtney, Bachelor of Fine Arts Student, University of the Fraser Valley

The 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Judy Whyte, who retired as Executive Director of the Abbotsford Arts Council last spring after 15 years of service. A tribute will also be made to honour the memory of Christine Caldwell, a former president of the Abbotsford Arts Council, city councillor, and a strong advocate of the arts in Abbotsford, who passed away in February.