Northwest Community College (NWCC) is awarding students from the Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art for their talent. A first year Fine Arts student has received the newly established NWCC President’s Art Award.
Danika Naccarella of the Nuxalk Nation in Bella Coola was awarded $750 for her first place painting entitled “Crouching Bear.”
In her piece, a bear is depicted in light blue in a crouching position. Naccarella enjoys using bold and vibrant colours on her artwork and wanted the piece to catch eyes.
“I’m honoured to receive this award,” said Naccarella. “As a young artist, my learning experience at the Freda Diesing School has truly helped to build my confidence and the skills that I’ve learned in my first year shine through in this design. I’m proud that it will become a part of NWCC’s permanent collection.”
NWCC has purchased the painting and limited edition prints will be produced to use as gifts. This gives Naccarella the opportunity to start gaining exposure and recognition for her work while still a NWCC student.
Each student at the Freda Diesing School was invited to submit a painting and to be considered by a panel of judges, who selected a first place awardee and second place honorary mention.
Shawna Kiesman was awarded $250 and honorary mention for her “Wolf” painting. Kiesman was born in Prince Rupert and is of Tsimshian and Nisga’a ancestry on her mother’s side and her father is Haida.
“Winning this award means a lot to me,” said Kiesman. “I came into the Fine Arts program without any experience, so I’m very honoured that the quality of my work would be recognized so soon by NWCC’s president.”
"I am very proud to recognize the hard work and talent of our students at the Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art," said NWCC President Ken Burt. "Danika's first place award recognizes her skill and attention to detail. It's a great accomplishment for a first year student to achieve. Shawna's second place award reflects her talent and diligence. Congratulations to both of these talented young students. We look forward to seeing the artwork they produce in the future."
Students from the Freda Diesing School held their "Arts of the North" exhibition of Northwest Coast Art style wooden masks, bowls, spoons and paddles on April 24 and 25 at the Terrace Campus Waap Galts'ap longhouse.