A Thunder Bay-area artist has won a prestigious award from the Ontario government.
Christian Chapman from the Fort William First Nation received the Emerging Artist of the Year award at the 10th annual Premier’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts last Thursday night in Toronto.
The awards program recognizes artists and arts organizations for their contributions to Ontario’s arts and culture sector.
Chapman is an Anishinaabe visual artist and filmmaker.
A news release from the government states “his two-dimensional mixed-media artwork fuses elements of computer-manipulated images, painting, drawing and printmaking.”
The release goes on to explain the act of storytelling has been an important part of Chapman’s life.
“It has informed him of his culture by shaping his identity and personal experiences.”
Chapman receives a $15,000 cash prize.
He was nominated for the award by another indigenous artist, Christi Belcourt, a Metis visual artist from Espanola.
Belcourt herself won the Individual Artist award, which carries a $35,000 prize and the right to choose the Emerging Artist of the Year winner.
The awards program is administered by the Ontario Arts Council.
