BC Artists Honoured With Awards for Applied Art and Design

A ceramic artist, sculptor, and shoemaker have been named the recipients of the 2015 Carter Wosk BC Creative Achievement Awards for Applied Art and Design. The awards celebrate British Columbians who through their creativity contribute to the cultural and economic fabric of the province and recognize individuals whose work has a practical function.

Recipients of the 11th annual awards, selected by a jury, are Kelly Austin for ceramics, Alastair Heseltine for basket weaving, and Renée Macdonald for shoemaking. 

Arc’teryx, a technical high-performance outerwear and equipment company located in North Vancouver, was named the recipient of the 2015 BC Creative Achievement Award of Distinction.

Emily Carr graduate Kelly Austin, of Vancouver, is an emerging ceramic artist who has been practicing since 2007. Austin is currently working on her Masters of Philosophy in the ceramics workshop at the ANU School of Art in Canberra, Australia. Her work includes functional objects as well as engagement with conceptual ideas of relationships between objects, still life, and architecture. 

Educated and trained in the UK, France, and Canada, Alastair Heseltine is a sculptor on Hornby Island who works with mixed media relating to the environment. The inherent nature of materials, chosen along with construction systems evolved through mindful observation and play, guide the imagery of his work. Alastair draws from the full spectrum of routines and activities that support his practice: design, craft production, farming and rural life.

Renée Macdonald spent five years working as a shoe repairer, honing her skills and learning about shoe construction, design and materials, while starting her own one-woman shoemaking practice in Vancouver. Footwear designed and created under her line, Westerly Handmade Shoes, are available on a made-to-order basis, allowing for personalized touches for her clients; she also create custom designs by commission. Macdonald's shoes are constructed for reliability, longevity, and beauty.

The Carter Wosk BC Creative Achievement Awards for Applied Art and Design are named in honour of Emily Carr University of Art + Design professor emeritus Sam Carter and cultural philanthropist Dr. Yosef Wosk.

The 2015 awards will be presented in late November at a ceremony at Shaw Studios in Vancouver. 

To learn more about the awards, visit http://bcachievement.com/creative/info.php.