The Salt Spring National Art Prize (SSNAP) has named the finalists for the 2021/22 biennial competition. Included among the fifty-two artists is Salt Spring’s Connie Kuhns. Her photograph called “Canadian Farmhouse” will be part of the Finalists Exhibition opening on September 24 at historic Mahon Hall. Kuhns learned the good news via an email notification, and was overjoyed, “Honestly, I’m a bit shocked, but I’m very, very happy. Thrilled, actually. And so very grateful to be a part of this island community.” Her photograph was taken on a country road in the Lower Mainland. “The morning I took the photograph, I was out driving around on some back roads down by the Fraser River. Fog, Farmland. I went the wrong way, and there it was. It reminded me of an Andrew Wyeth painting, and at the same time, so very Canadian. So very humble.” Kuhns, who has resided on Salt Spring for nine years says, “As a photographer you always hope that what you are feeling in that moment is con…

My wife and I were enjoying our fifth year on Salt Spring Island when the pandemic hit. As we hunkered down, like many others in this wonderful community, I looked for a way to use my unexpected free time to give back to the island. Our company, Terrier Marketing, works with manufacturers that supply the entertainment industry, among others. When one of them came up with images that could be projected on the sides of buildings, I knew I had what I was looking for. I needed to find a building that would provide a surface that could be projected on, and a corresponding secure location where I could locate the projector. A careful study of buildings along Fulford Ganges Road found only one pair of buildings that would meet my needs. Dan Spiess at Salt Spring Physiotherapy gave his permission to use his temporarily shuttered clinic and enthusiastic support for what he called “this noble project”. Jeremy Milsom at Salt Spring Inn allowed us to use his exterior wall as a screen. …

These students are a combined choir from the Grade 3/4/5 classes at both Fernwood and Salt Spring Island Elementary Schools, in Salt Spring Island B.C. Each school, lead by music teacher Whitney Walker, was excited to enter the CBC Challenge, but decided to work together to combine their voices, rather than submit two tapes. They have met weekly at noon for the last month or so in their respective schools, to learn their song. “Scars to Your Beautiful,” by Alessia Cara, was the Canadian selection they chose, because of the beauty of the message; “Just Be Yourself.” Then they came together on taping day, meeting for the very first time, to create their tape together to submit to the Music Challenge as one large choir. What a great experience it was singing together! https://youtu.be/tcP8gzNg3u0

Salt Spring National Art Prize organizers are thrilled by the enthusiasm shown by the national and local artists who attended, as well as art lovers who revelled in all three art showcases.  Winners were announced at a gala awards night before a packed house at Mahon Hall on October 19. Hailing from Winnipeg, the winner of the Salt Spring Prize (The Joan McConnell Award) is 28-year old artist Luther Konadu. His photograph, Figure as Index, captured the jury and held their attention in a way one juror described as “clever and confrontational; humorous and challenging and expansive in its interrogation of photography as meaning and form,” and another referred to his work as “a slow burn.” Konadu receives $15,000 and a Salt Spring Island artist residency of $5,000. Konadu was not expecting to win the Salt Spring Prize, “It never crossed my mind that it could be me out of the 50 plus finalists. I knew I couldn't attend and I thought there was a lot of great work being shown. …