Art and soul

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This article was published 03/04/2025 (359 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

What is art? And what separates art from craft? How is one work deemed to be of artistic merit while a similar piece is considered skilled workmanship?

Is one person’s art another person’s craft?

These were questions the Winnipeg Fine Art Fair panel grappled with when selecting pieces for its juried art show and sale.

Artists vying for a booth at the three-day Winnipeg Fine Art Fair had to present five examples of their art to the judging panel, composed of board members and fellow artists.

Works were judged on originality, technical skill, depth and meaning, medium and materials, cohesion and consistency, and presentation and professionalism.

Nearly 70 artists were chosen to display a minimum of 20 works each, ranging from oil, watercolour and acrylic paintings, to fibre art, wood and metal work, at Red River Exhibition Park from Friday through Sunday.

All artwork is available to purchase, with 100 per cent of proceeds going to the artist.

“We had more than 90 applications for this year’s show. With more participants and an increase in applications, the jury process has become more competitive and challenging,” board member Tree Tree Tes says.

Tree, 40, who moved to Canada from Hong Kong 3 1/2 years ago, says participating in the show last year gave her the confidence to pursue art as a full-time career.

“It made a real difference to me. I was a gallery founder in Hong Kong and had art galleries in the city. When I moved here with my family I started to work in a restaurant,” she says.

“I applied for the show because I want to push myself to step out. I didn’t have much confidence to show my art in Canada and it seemed hard to achieve when no one knows me. By the end of the event I had sold 21 out of the 28 paintings on display. This gave me the belief I needed to pursue my art here.”

The volunteer-run non-profit organization awards four $1,000 bursaries for booth fees and display costs to encourage emerging artists to apply to the fair, Tree explains.

This year’s recipients include Ghadir Ghali and Teagen Verner.

Ghali, 41, who works primarily with acrylics and oils, holds a fine arts degree from the University of Alexandria, Egypt.

“Winning this bursary is such an exciting and meaningful opportunity for me. It not only provides financial support but also gives me the chance to showcase my art at the fair, which is an incredible platform for emerging artists like myself,” she says.

Verner, 22, describes herself as a mixed-media artist who uses acrylic paints, charcoal, graphite and inks, among other things, to create her pieces. This is her first time taking part in an art event of this scale.

“As an artist that is just starting to dip their toes in getting their art out there, a table cost of $750 can really exclude you from events, so I am extremely lucky to have that covered by the bursary,” she says. “It means so much to me to be able to participate with all the other artists that will be there.”

av.kitching@freepress.mb.ca