Abbotsford resident Harrison Hemeon has won a $5,000 scholarship for an art project that will mix traditional art with new technology.
Hemeon was one of nine B.C. First Nations artists to be awarded scholarships from the YVR Art Foundation to further their creative excellence and commitment to develop their art.
The students were recognized at an awards reception held in late May at Vancouver International Airport.
“Sharing the rich cultural stories from B.C. First Nations is dependent on today’s young artists,” said YVR Art Foundation executive director Susan Jackson. “The 2015 YVR Art Foundation Award recipients represent some of the best emerging First Nations artists in British Columbia. We are proud to help these young visionaries realize their creative potential and contribute to the success of a new generation of artists.”
The recipients are selected by a jury of three senior First Nations artists. Each recipient will receive a $5,000 scholarship to attend a formal art institution or study with a mentor over the course of one year. The Youth Scholarship recipients will also be taken on a guided tour to visit Vancouver museums, galleries and art studios for a day.
Hemeon’s project will include creating traditional aboriginal prints, 3-D modeling in which he will create the digital Salish House Posts. His father, George Hemeon, will mentor him in different ways of printing, painting and carving in traditional Salish forms.