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September 10, 2024
“Showcase Our Heritage” Art Contest Submissions
Over the past summer, Heritage Winnipeg hosted our first ever art contest! We invited artists of all backgrounds, skill levels, and styles to share a piece of visual artwork that engaged with Winnipeg’s built heritage. In response, we received 19 submissions!
On Friday, September 13th, we will be announcing 3 winners. Each of our 3 winners will receive a prize package with a series of gifts donated by local Exchange District Businesses, including:
Seduta
Dave Barber Cinematheque
Amsterdam Tea Room and Bar
Bodegoes
Across the Board
Into the Music
King’s Head Pub
Johnny G’s
Warehouse Artworks
Clementine Cafe
Tara Davis Studio Boutique
Little Brown Jug
Rose Coffee and Wine
Thank you to all of the artists who shared their work and to all of the businesses who contributed to our prizes.
Use the arrows in the gallery below to see all 19 art contest submissions:
"My work is inspired by my daily commute through downtown!"
"This piece is fueled by my personal connection to this historic building, where I spent the last couple of years working on the third floor. I’ve always been struck by how beautifully the surrounding nature complements the building's charm and character. I sought to capture that harmony by incorporating the trees and flowers that surround 219 Provencher, depicting both winter and summer.""
"A south view from Disraeli Fwy looking over Gomez St and Higgins Ave on August 2018"
"As favourably reported by the Manitoba Free Press 15 December 1900, painter Mary Riter Hamilton had a studio at 196 Kennedy Street. A successful painter of fine china and, later, landscapes and other traditional subjects, in 1919 at age 51 she made the life-changing decision to document post-war battlefields in France and Belgium to capture, in paint, the devastation before nature and human activity erased what had taken place there. Denied official War Artist status and support by the male-dominated art institutions of the time, she found a sympathetic hearing with men of the Amputation Club of British Columbia, and received support from The Gold Stripe, a magazine dedicated to wounded soldiers, for her travel in early 1919. She worked prodigiously and without rest for over 2 years, and her work took a heavy emotional toll (today we would recognize it as PTSD). She died in poverty in 1954. Her life and work has been documented in two excellent books within the last few years. "
"A plan view of the east exchange district showcasing the unique characteristics of buildings from afar, and above. The relationship between architecture up close and afar is that while you are unable to see the details of the buildings materials, you get to enjoy the view of space within spaces and how human experience fills the voids of each building and corridor.""
"This piece was done during a break i took during Covid. I saw people on youtube sketching so i decided to give it a try and love my home town of Winnipeg and the amazing building in the city. I have so many wonderful memories of Main St from a kid to adult."
"Seventy Five Albert Street is the home to my art studio and a community of other artists. I Included ‘sporedom’ from last Nuit Blanche!"
(part of a larger print series focused on Winnipeg alleyways) "Following an early morning walk in Winnipeg's Exchange District, marvelling at the old, characterful architecture, I was inspired by the dark, dank, neglected and overlooked spaces. The aim of this print series is to shed light on the fascinating history of these alleyways, with vivid colour and clarity, and to provide a snapshot in time. I was challenged by the power of line and sympathetic consideration to negative space."
"During my lunch break I love walking around the exchange, and admiring architecture and old businesses and buildings. I tried to capture the details all around me in this painting."
"I love walking at the Exchange District because of its heritage buildings and great architecture. This piece has been one of my favorite buildings in the Exchange."
"Everytime I pass this church I see all the new modern buildings surrounding it and wonder what it would have looked like when it was surrounded by nothing more than dirt roads .. painted in the winter to show its cleanliness and peaceful quietness while being surrounded by city mayhem."
"I love the concept of a church named "All Saints" because it evokes inclusivity and the idea of honoring all who have lived virtuously, regardless of their backgrounds, we are all Canadians and we can all be Saints no matter what we look like. The name suggests a space that celebrates unity and the collective spiritual journey of humanity evolving to be better than sinners. It also carries a sense of reverence for diverse paths to holiness, offering a welcoming atmosphere. Additionally, the name "All Saints" connects to a rich tradition within Christianity, blending history with a timeless sense of community and devotion."
"The distinctive' gull-wing' or 'marina' style roofline of a 1960s Winnipeg Safeway store is recognizable even from beyond the loading dock and cardboard compactor/baler at the back of the building. Since the artist worked as Safeway as a teen, and has an abiding interest in Winnipeg's industrial architecture rather than its common facades, this artwork has both personal meaning and aesthetic resonance. In using industrial vector technology to create this unique work, the artist is able to crisply manipulate perspective, formal colour distribution, line, and gradients in unusual ways while producing a virtually seamless work of art reminiscent of Charles Scheeler and Christopher Pratt's paintings. This technological approach to image creation also accounts for the punning title of the work: loading.doc "
"This painting was inspired by one of Winnipeg's most historic landmarks, The Forks. Located at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, The Forks has been a meeting place for over 6,000 years, serving as a vital hub for Indigenous peoples, European fur traders, railway pioneers, and tens of thousands of immigrants. In this artwork, I wanted to capture a modern-day version of the site, reflecting its contemporary use during the winter season. The train bridge, adorned with colorful containers, represents the area's ongoing importance as a transportation and trade hub. The lone figure skating on the frozen river beneath the bridge adds a touch of human warmth and activity, emphasizing how The Forks continues to be a lively gathering place even in the colder months. Through this painting, I aim to celebrate both the historical significance and the current vibrancy of The Forks, showcasing its enduring role in connecting people and communities."
"I recently began doing a series of art that celebrates the beauty in Winnipeg, but more specifically the Exchange district. I think that Winnipeg has so much to offer, and we as Winnipegers often don't appreciate the beauty that is right here in the core of our city. The architecture has been preserved so well, and the downtown streets are filled with hidden gems like you see depicted in this piece."
