Three StFX students, Wankunda Bwalya, Jordyn Conn and Kenneth Matheson, have been recognized for outstanding talent and promise in the fine arts and have been named the 2020 recipients of StFX’s Angus F. Macgillivray Art Bursary.
The $750 annual bursaries, named in honour of the late Angus F. Macgillivray, an exceptional artist, teacher and StFX fine arts department faculty member, recognize outstanding studio production and encourage artists showing promise in the visual arts. To be considered, applicants submit a sketchbook and six finished artworks. Judges look for a mastery of skill in a variety of art mediums as well as a giving a sense of cohesive artistic vision.
“My reaction to receiving this award was pure excitement. I was so thrilled to open the email from (Art Department chair) Leigh (Gillam) with the news. I remember being in first year and hearing about this bursary and just thinking to myself, ‘wow it would be so neat to receive that award one day,’ and here we are. It still feels very surreal,” says Ms. Conn, of Seguin Township, ON, who is entering her fifth year at StFX this fall and completing a women’s and gender studies major with a studio art minor.
She has taken a number of art courses over the years, including drawing, materials and methods, introduction to colour, art history, stained glass, and introduction to painting.
“Receiving this award is a great honour. I have loved art my whole life and it is such a good feeling to be recognized by other local artists,” she says.
“Growing up, my grandparents, who just so happened to be my next door neighbours, had a craft room in their house with any art supply you could ever need. Being encouraged to create whatever I wanted from a young age definitely just inspired my love for art. I continue to create art because I genuinely enjoy it. Now, most of my art becomes gifts for friends and family. The appreciation and joy they have when they receive my art is what keeps me going and inspired.”
PROGRESS RECOGNIZED
“My art knowledge and art making skills have improved significantly as a result of studying at StFX and I am thrilled that my progress is acknowledged by this award,” says Ken Matheson, who retired and moved to Georgeville, NS three years ago. Although this is his first year at StFX, he had some transfer credits, so has completed his second year of an honours BA in philosophy and art. He says after he graduates from StFX, he intends to pursue a MFA degree.
“My first reaction was to excitedly tell my husband, and he broadcasted the news to our family and friends. My second reaction was to thank my art professors for being great teachers, for what they taught me and for their help and guidance this year,” he says.
“My husband and I are both interested in art. We’ve been collecting for more than 30 years. Our collection comprises paintings, drawings, sculptures and photographs from twentieth century modernists and contemporary artists. About 10 years ago, I was inspired to start making art. I took some drawing and painting classes at the Winnipeg Art Gallery Studio and at the Toronto School of Art and I’ve been a hobbyist painter since then. When I decided to get a degree from StFX, I included studio art and art history because I wanted to improve my art making practice.”
This year, he took introduction to drawing, introduction to painting, materials and methods, introduction to colour theory, and art history.
MEANS A LOT
Wankunda Bwalya says he has always had an interest in art.
“I believe it’s because I find it easier to express myself through it. Not only do I believe it is a way to reach out to people without saying any literal words, but to help others understand things through art. Therefore, most of my art works have a meaning and a story to tell,” says Mr. Bwalya, who is from a small town called Kasama, located in the northern part of Zambia. He just completed his third year at StFX in the Schwartz School of Business with a major in entrepreneurship. So far, he has taken Art 101 and Art 102.
“It means a lot for me to receive this award, because coming from a country that does not really acknowledge things like this, it really gives me more confidence in myself and in what I am doing. It also means a lot because I finally got acknowledgement from my father for winning this award. I was really excited and honoured when I was told that I was one of this year’s recipients for this award. I am really grateful and appreciative for being selected.”
