Retired art teacher Karen Nisbet was all smiles last night at the Art Gallery of Algoma as her name was read twice during the awards ceremony for the 36th Annual Festival of the Arts.
Judges Michael Burch and Jean Burke presented Nisbet with one of two Judges' Choice Awards for her multi-media sculpture Sol, and the Harriet Black Award for Trickster Mask.
In addition to being vivid pieces of art, Sol will be incorporated into the stage set of an upcoming Sault production of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Gondoliers, and Trickster Mask was used as a prop in Song of Nanabozho presented by the Turkey Vulture Theatre Company this past August.
Nisbet, in fact, had to borrow the mask from its current owner Sue Barber who acted as mentor during the production.
"She's going to be thrilled that it won an award," Nisbet told SooToday.com. "After working on that production, I knew Sue had to have that mask. If you know anything about Sue, you know she is the Trickster."
Nisbet also created sets for the White Pines OnStage production of Miss Saigon, including a giant statue of Ho Chi Minh, and is currently planning set designs for Sweeney Todd scheduled to stage in February 2009.
Nope - retirement for Nisbet doesn't mean she's any less busy.
The following is the complete list of the 2008 Festival of the Arts winners.
BEST OF SHOW (Harriet Black Award) Karen Nisbet - Trickster Mask
JUDGES' CHOICE (Personal) Karen Nisbet - Sol
JUDGES' CHOICE (Theme Related) Gordon Stone - Loon Magic Rising
TEXTILE AND FABRIC (Johanna Bishoping Award) Russ Mason - Night Sky
DRAWING Anne Laidlaw - River Runs Through It
PAINTING (2 recipients) John Laford - Moon Behind the Clouds Edward Roman Kosiba - Steel Plant
MIXED MEDIA Brian Marks - Partially Hidden
PHOTOGRAPHY Britt-Marie Lindgren - Dance Me O Northland
PRINTMAKING AND GRAPHIC DESIGN Ellen Hadath - Compliments of Spring
3D Sally Gibson - Santa Fe Chair
HONOURABLE MENTION Nancy Sachro - Superior Shore Sheila Currie - Melodious Wetlands - Song of Life Taimi Poldmaa - Alona Bay Michael Devoni - Tina Judith McGonigal - Cedar Bark Keepsake Box Sandra Hodge - Puffer Fish