Night of Artists

As expected Elke Blodgett and Alan Nuttall received Lifetime Achievement Awards on Thursday night at the seventh annual St. Albert Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts.

Held in partnership with Night of Artists, the awards ceremony celebrated their unique signature styles. Blodgett’s pottery inspired from nature and Nuttall’s distinctive style of NaÄŹve art are two examples of artistry that is sensitive, intelligent and largely focused on technique.

Recipients are discouraged from speaking while receiving their award, however after the shindig Nuttall said, “Ever since I was notified, I was thrilled to bits. I was nominated in 2011. However, a better person than me, Pat Wagensveld, received the award that year.”

Offstage, Blodgett initially appeared reticent to share her onstage emotions explaining that she prefers to work with her hands rather than her mouth.

However, after collecting her thoughts she explained that receiving the award “was very moving. It was very emotional. I’m sort of the black sheep in town being involved in environmental issues. Many people, even close friends, didn’t even know I was an artist. But my house is filled with pottery, painting and books.”

Both Blodgett and Nuttall took home an iron statuette created by Kyle Walton of Hammer and Forge Design Studio and their names will be inscribed on the Cultural Wall of Fame.

Mary Hulbert and Neil Kuefler of Thou Art Here Theatre, a troupe of lively Shakespearean performers, took over the hosting duties. In a particularly delightful moment Hulbert, dressed in 16th century period costume, delivered a tongue-in-cheek Shakespearean ode to St. Albert.

Singer-songwriter Julia Nicholson, who performed at last year’s celebration, scooped up the Synergy Youth Artist Award.

Afterwards, a smiling Nicholson said, “ I was very thankful. The person I want to thank the most is my mother. She does so much for me. She believes in me when I don’t believe in myself.”

The Ellisdon Emerging Artist Award was presented to percussionist-musician Allyson MacIvor.

“I was so shocked. Drummers never win. Singers win. We’re the support. So it’s incredible to go from the back lines to the front of stage,” said a bubbly MacIvor.

Visual artist Carol Johnson scooped up the Established Artist Award while Leo Nickerson teacher Andrea Daly received the nod for Excellence in Arts Teaching.

It was no surprise that piano teacher Nancy Watt collected the Chandos Arts Leadership Award for her numerous successful initiatives within the community.

And St. Albert Place Visual Arts Council was honoured with the St. Albert Chamber of Commerce Award for Community Arts Group.

This grouping of recipients received a painting from Tyler Dianocky, a born and raised St. Albertan who received his first crack at national fame as guitarist for rock band Tupelo Honey.

At intermittent breaks during the award ceremony, performing artists from varying disciplines paraded their art.

The 18-member Victoria School of Jazz Choir sang three golden oldies. Unfortunately the music and vocals coming out of the speakers sounded muddy, possibly due to the fact the Enjoy Centre is a greenhouse. The glass and concrete structure was never designed as a performance venue and the acoustics for a big sound just don’t work.

Spoken word artist Julia Sorensen, a finalist in the Can You Hear Me Now Poetry Contest in Calgary, performed two pieces that reinforced the power and anger of youth.

Singer-songwriter Paul Woida used looping modern technology to morph into a digital one-man band. In a charming, two-way moment, he snap-chatted the audience while singing.

And finally, ballet dancer Lauren O’Kell performed a light neoclassical solo. Although the ballet was highly technical and beautifully fluid, she appeared uncomfortable performing on a makeshift stage too small for her broad movements.

As crowds initially trickled into the Enjoy Centre, three frenzied art slam visual artists were whipping up a piece while folk and blues musician Matthew James Potter strummed his slide guitar on the side.

Oksana Zhelisko was galvanized to paint a powerfully dramatic black and white rendering of a woman crying. Louis Lavoie instead chose a prairie house in the middle of a storm while Igor Postash completed a sunny visual of a girl with flowers.

The paintings were auctioned and proceeds are placed in a fund to assist aspiring visual artists.

Special kudos goes to the brigade of five student chefs from St. Albert Catholic High School who made a special contribution. They spent the last three days during class time and lunches baking and frosting 350 cupcakes for guests.