2010 Governor General’s Awards for Visual and Media Arts

Their Excellencies the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, and Mr. Jean-Daniel Lafond hosted the 11th Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts, on March 31, 2010, at Rideau Hall. On this occasion, the Governor General delivered an address to laureates and their guests.

Her Excellency presented the Saidye Bronfman Award to glass sculptor Ms. Ione Thorkelsson. Ms. Thorkelsson began her career studying architecture at the University of Manitoba then changed direction to pursue a fascination with glass. In 1973, she learned the blown glass technique, built her own studio and began creating vases, perfume bottles and other vessels. She lives in Roseisle, Manitoba.

Her Excellency presented the Outstanding Contribution Award to artist Mr. Terry Ryan. Mr. Ryan’s leadership has facilitated the success of three generations of Inuit artists over the past half-century. A temporary position as arts advisor at West Baffi n Eskimo Co-operative in Cape Dorset, in 1960, became a lifetime vocation. As general manager of the Co-op, he sourced suitable stone for carvings, distributed pencils and paper to encourage drawing, and engaged master printmakers. Mr. Ryan is a Member of the Order of Canada (1983) and lives in Toronto.

The Govenor General presented the award to painter and sculptor Mr. Claude Tousignant. Mr. Tousignant painted for the first time at the age of 12, copying the pictures from a calendar of Saint Joseph’s Oratory. This would be one of the rare moments of figurative painting in the career of this leading figure in the world of abstract art. For 60 years, he has pursued his research on the non-figurative with exemplary discipline and consistency. Famous for his instantly recognizable, vibrant circles, especially in the series Accélérateurs, Gongs and Dyptiques, the painter and sculptor has explored the qualities of colour, form, space and movement like nobody else. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada (1976) and lives in Montréal.

Their Excellencies honoured photographer Mr. Gabor Szilasi. In 1957, Mr. Szilasi fled the communist regime in Hungary and immigrated to Canada with his father. From 1959 to 1971, he was employed as a photographer by the Offi ce du fi lm du Québec, while continuing with his own photographic explorations. His first major project on the communities of Charlevoix and the Isle-aux-Coudres, produced in the 1970s, already gave evidence of his respect and documentary-like curiosity for his subjects. Mr. Szilasi lives in Westmount, Quebec.

The Governor General presented the award to video artist Mr. Tom Sherman. Soon after completing his Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Eastern Michigan, Mr. Sherman moved to Canada (1972) and went on to become one of this country’s leading figures in video art. He co-founded the artist-run centre, A Space Video (1973), and Fuse Magazine (1978). He worked at the Canada Council for the Arts in the early 1980s and founded its Media Arts section (1983). Mr. Sherman lives near Liverpool, Nova Scotia.

Her Excellency exchanged a few words with painter Ms. Rita Letendre. Ms. Letendre is one of only a handful of women painters to gain significant profile in the post-war period, Rita Letendre. She was associated with the Automatistes, in Quebec, who transformed painting practices in Canada. In the early sixties, she worked in Europe and Israel, winning a gold medal at Italy’s Piccola Europa exhibition. Her work took her to Los Angeles and New York, where she established herself as an outstanding muralist. Ms. Letendre lives in Toronto.

Their Excellencies honoured filmmaker Mr. André Forcier. Mr. Forcier came to filmmaking by accident when he was forced to take film studies in college. In 1967, his student film caught the attention of filmmaker Gilles Carle. In the early 1970s, when he was barely 25, he made his entry onto the Quebec and international scenes with Bar Salon (silver award at the Sorrento Film Festival, in Italy, and critics’ award from the Association des critiques de cinéma du Québec). Mr. Forcier lives in Longueuil, Quebec.

Her Excellency presented the award to Mr. Robert Davidson, a sculptor renowned for his totem poles, masks, paintings, prints and jewellery. He began carving at 13, taught by his father and uncle. Mr. Davidson lives in White Rock, British Columbia.

Official photo of Their Excellencies with the laureates of the 2010 Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts. The awards recognize distinguished career achievements by Canadian artists in these particular fields, as well as outstanding contributions made to the visual and media arts community through volunteerism, philanthropy, board governance, community outreach or professional activities. These prestigious awards are funded and administered by the Canada Council for the Arts.