Web Archive
July 18, 2007
For immediate release
Island Artisans Receive Awards During Celebration of Crafts in Summerside
Development and Technology
A four-month exhibition entitled Celebration of Crafts: Enriching Island Culture is promoting the amazing talent found among Island craftspeople through October 12.
Visitors to the Eptek Art & Culture Centre will be treated to an explosion of colour and creativity. Inside the gallery, virtually every craft medium is represented, including displays of wood working, sculpture and folk art, pottery, stone carvings, glass, jewelry and metals, stained glass, fibre and textiles, basketry, knitting and papier mâché.
The Honourable Richard Brown, Prince Edward Island’s Minister of Development and Technology, recently congratulated Wendy Upham Druet, recipient of the Premier’s Award for Best in Show. The life-size papier maché figure, entitled “Lucy,” is one of 84 pieces of fine craft on display at the Eptek Centre over the summer and into the fall.
“This is a truly impressive display, and I invite Islanders and those visiting our province to take the time to see what our Prince Edward Island artisans have to offer,” Minister Brown said. “All Islanders can be very proud of the skill and talent of our artisans and the quality work they do.”
Additional awards were presented during the official opening in June. The Dunes Studio Gallery Award for Runner-up was presented to Diane Gaudreau for her hall table entitled “Passages of Light.” The Department of Development and Technology Award for Most Innovative Work was presented to Jacques Gaudreau for his hall bench entitled “Transitions.” Confederation Centre of the Arts Award for Honourable Mention was presented by Hon. Carolyn Bertram, Minister of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour, to Louise Lortie and Elaine Schuller for their felted silk shawl entitled “Island Spring Wrap.”
Celebration of Crafts is providing a venue for over 80 Island artisans to show their products to locals and visitors alike. Many of the beautiful pieces are also for sale. Purchasers will receive their handcrafted works at the end of the show in October.
The exhibition is one of several events across Canada held in recognition of Craft Year 2007. Eptek Art & Culture Centre is a site of Museum and Heritage PEI, which operates under the Department of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour. Financial support for this exhibition is provided by PEI Business Development Inc. and the Arts Stabilization Fund through the PEI Crafts Council.
