Scholarship Recipients
Scholarship Recipients:
• Use scholarship funding support to develop their art through attendance at workshops, schools or work with masters, mentors or elders in their particular media;
• Are introduced to established artists, galleries and the art community;
• Create artwork, displayed for one year at Vancouver International Airport.
2008 YVR Art Foundation Scholarship Recipients:
Sophia Beaton
Sophia Beaton is 21 years old, Tshimshian and resides in Terrace, BC. She has been a student at the Freda Diesing School at Northwest Community College for the last year. She will be continuing her studies at the College learning the techniques of carving with mentor Stan Beven. Sophia's scholarship is sponsored by CIBC.
Juanita Ens
Juanita is 22 years old, Haida and resides in Vancouver, BC. Juanita has just completed working for one year with her mentor, accomplished Haida artist Jay Simeon, in the medium of silver, gold and argillite. During the next year Juanita will work in wood to learn carving techniques, and to make her own tools. Her final project proposal is to create a portrait mask out of red cedar with a painted form line design, abalone inlaid eyes and inlaid teeth. Her scholarship is sponsored by Kasian Architecture.
Bryan Hunt
Bryan Hunt is 24 years old, Kwawakawak, and resides in Alert Bay, BC. Bryan is a fourth generation carver who has been working with wood for the last 2 years. Bryan will be working with master carver, Beau Dick, as his mentor and plans to create a personal and symbolic mask for his final project. Bryan's scholarship is sponsored by the Audain Foundation for the Visual Arts.
Dustin Rivers
Dustin is 22 years old, Squamish, and resides in Vancouver, BC. Dustin will be working with mentor, Aaron Nelson-Moody to closely study the form lines and design elements in Coast Salish Art. He is an active member of his local community, and is very involved in many native youth programs working to promote health, wellness, and healthy eating choices. currently Dustin works as the Artistic Director for the Redwire Native Youth Media Society's magazine. Through the YVRAF scholarship, Dustin hopes to develop his artistic skills and continue to use them as a tool to help create change and benefit people within his local community. His scholarship is sponsored by the Vancouver International Airport.
Erika Stocker
Erika is 18 years old, Haida, and resides in Masset, BC. Erika has been surrounded by weavers her whole life. Her great, great, great grandmother was a well known Haida weaver and she will continue this legacy by focusing her scholarship on learning weaving techniques with mentor Christine Carty. She is also a member of the Tluu Xaada Naay Society Dance Group where she is a drummer and a singer. Erika's scholarship is sponsored by Stantec Architecture.
2008 Emily Carr University Scholarship Recipient:
Tamara Skubovius
Tamara is a second year art student in the General Fine Arts program at Emily Carr University of Art and Design. Prior to studying at Emily Carr, she attended the Kitinmaax School for Northwest Coast Indian Art in Hazleton, BC where she learned Tsimshian wood carving and design. In her second year at Kitinmaax, Tamara won the YVR Art Foundation Scholarship and completed a carved bent bowl that is currently on display at the Vancouver International Airport. With this scholarship Tamara will be furthering her native art training by traveling to northern BC to study under her grandparents and other Tahltan elders who will mentor her in traditional Tahltan art. What she learns from her experience will influence future projects while attending Emily Carr University.
2008 Northwest Community College Scholarship Winner:
Todd Stephens
Age: 23
First Nations Ancestry: Nisgaa'a
Mentor: Stan Bevan
Project: Hummingbird Headdress
2007 YVR Art Foundation Scholarship Recipients:
Juanita Ens
Cori Savard
Marika Swan
2006 YVR Art Foundation Scholarship Recipients:
Raymond Boisjoly
Nykiya Graham
Kelvin Redvers
Morgan Green
Chrystal Sparrow
2005 YVR Art Foundation Scholarship Recipients:
Kwiaahwah Jones
Tamara Skubovius
Lianna Spence