Amidst a crowded room of 75 high school students and their families, an Okotoks student was stunned when his name was announced as winner of a prestigious art award in Calgary on May 7.
Jack Boardman, a Grade 12 student at the Alberta High School of Fine Arts (AHSFA) in Okotoks, received the Special Recognition award along with a $100 cash prize from the Alberta College of Art and Design (ACAD).
“I’m very happy,” said Boardman. “Art means everything to me. It’s my life.”
Boardman was one of 75 high school students from across the province to have their work chosen for the 2011 Show Off High School Student Art and Design Exhibition at the Alberta College of Art and Design’s (ACAD) Illingworth Kerr Gallery.
The awards were handed out during a closing reception for the exhibition, when ACAD president and CEO Daniel Doz made the surprise announcement 13 of the exhibiting artists would receive art scholarships and awards helping them in their pursuit of a Bachelor of Design or Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at ACAD.
Just pleased to have his artwork on display in the professional gallery, Boardman said he was incredibly shocked to hear he won the award.
“My art teacher mentioned someone was going to get an award from our school, but I didn’t know who it was,” he said.
Describing the process in creating his abstract piece, Boardman said he used a combination of spray paint and ink on canvas, a departure from his typical artwork of sketches and acrylic paintings.
Doz said he chose Boardman for the award due to the intensity behind his artwork.
“There’s a dark mood to the work that is just quite amazing,” said Doz. “At first, we thought there’s the typical teenage angst but there’s more to it. There’s a depth to it and the textures are just amazing. It’s a very nice piece that comes from imagination.”
Nearly 200 students across the province competed to be showcased at the major gallery exhibition, a first step for many towards careers as professional artists.
When submissions started coming in, Doz said he was surprised by the quality of the students’ work and by the variety of mediums used, from collage to sculpture to photography.
“We were really blown away by both the quality and the maturity,” said Doz. “Because this is fairly new, we didn’t know what to expect.”
Boardman’s art teacher Janie Zwack was also present at the gallery’s closing reception, where five other students from AHSFA had their artwork displayed.
“We’re just so proud of him,” said Zwack. “The arts have really suffered in schools right across the province, so I think this is a wonderful initiative on their part. The financial support is so appreciated.”
At a time when so many art programs are facing funding cuts, Doz agreed it is critical for institutions like ACAD to help students and schools financially as much as possible.
“We are the one of only four standalone art schools in Canada, and the only one between Vancouver and Toronto,” he said. “When economic times are difficult, arts budgets are cut. It’s always like that. So part of our role has to be as champions for art. “
Boardman said the award will help him to pursue arts education at a post-secondary level at ACAD, which he appreciates.
“I plan on coming to ACAD,” he said. “I’d like to get a degree and become an illustration artist.”
