emerging artist

The 2021 New Grad Program!

VANS is pleased to announce the start of the fourth New Grad Program with ten amazing emerging artists! This year participants will get weekly professional development workshops, mentorship from artist Michael McCormack, studio visits from curator Julie Hollenbach, and studio space in the new Wonder’neath Studios in North End Halifax. The New Grad Program participants…

New Grad Program deadline extended!

Sign up for Visual Arts Nova Scotia’s New Grad Program! This 14 week program is designed to help recent graduates navigate the transition from a full time student to a professional artist. During the program, all participants will be given the opportunity to take weekly professional development workshops on topics such as budgeting, applying for grants, writing about…

2020-21 Mentorship Program Exhibition

Something Completely Different Visual Arts Nova Scotia’s 2020-21 Mentorship Program Exhibition The Craig Gallery, June 30 – July 25, 2021 Emerging Artist Talk (over Zoom): Saturday, July 10, 2pm  Highlighting the talents of emerging artists Trevor Novak, Sarah Mosher, Liam Ross and Celine Gabrielle, Something Completely Different also includes work from mentors Robin Metcalfe, Melissa Marr,…

“Working Girls” by Liam Ross

Working Girls is a series of instant photographs by artist Liam Ross that explore the ephemeral labour of drag performers in Halifax. Backstage moments, rather than stage performances, are emphasized: preparing makeup and costumes, travelling to gigs, breaks between acts, and dressing room antics. The resulting photographs are at times compelling, intimate, and revealing. Make…

The New Grad Program begins!

We are pleased to announce the start of the third New Grad Program! It’s going to be an interesting year navigating this new pandemic reality, but we are so pleased to be running this program again with ten amazing artists! This year participants will get weekly professional development workshops, mentorship from artist Eryn Foster, studio…

“The Greens Are Breathing” by Rachel Anzalone

Emerging artist Rachel Anzalone shows her new minimalist landscape paintings inspired by her travels with friends across the province. In this series, Anzalone is documenting her visits and creating memories linked to these Nova Scotian locations. The Greens Are Breathing was scheduled to be up in the Corridor Gallery March 3 -30, but since the…

“False Testimonies” by Trevor Novak

Trevor Novak’s offbeat exhibition False Testimonies is a series of small vignettes of ceramic figurative sculptures, arranged differently in each installation to create a rich narrative for the viewer. Novak found inspiration for his sculptures, made of black unglazed clay and gold leaf, in Christian iconography and early medieval illuminations. See False Testimonies in the…

New Grad Program Open Studio!

The VANS New Grad Program participants invite you to their Open Studio! Join us in supporting these 9 amazing emerging artists and see what they have been working on during the program, chat with them, and see some great art. The Open Studio is on Wednesday, November 6 from 6 – 9pm in their 2nd…

The 2019 New Grads!

We are pleased to introduce the 2019 VANS New Grad Program participants! Over the next 14 weeks of the program, all of the participants will receive weekly professional development workshops and info sessions, meet with their mentor Eryn Foster, have studio visits from curator Julie Hollenbach and 24 hour access to a shared studio at…

“Flat Form” by Ada Denil

Emerging artist Ada Denil’s exhibition of large scale prints was created using multiple intaglio plates organized to create the illusion of a cohesive form. Her careful arrangements have created different angles and planes, resulting in compositions reminiscent of folded paper or origami. See Ada Denil’s exhibition, Flat Form, in the Corridor Gallery August 2 –…

“Searching for a Place to Land” by Jenny Yujia Shi

Compelled by her ongoing effort in pursuing permanent resident status in Canada, Jenny Yujia Shi‘s Searching For A Place To Land explores themes of border-crossing, transience, and displacement. Her site specific installation consists of anonymous walking figures made with paper that has been texturized, glazed, stuffed and sewn onto a canvas backing. As Shi states, “while…

Announcing the 2018-19 Mentorship Program Artists

Visual Arts Nova Scotia is pleased to officially announce the participants of this year’s Mentorship Program. After receiving some great applications, the program will be supporting four dedicated emerging Nova Scotian artists. Carrie Allison, Emily Lawrence, Jenny Yujia Shi, and Katharine (Kyle) Vingoe-Cram have been individually paired with established artists and mentors: Ursula Johnson, Peter…

“The Pantry” by Ada Denil

In the current exhibition at the Corridor Gallery, artist Ada Denil shows her series, entitled The Pantry. This collection of painted works, drawings, and some small three-dimensional pieces depicts twisted and contorted figures that appear to be bound by the constraints of jars. The Pantry is on view in the Corridor Gallery July 4 –…

Apply for the Mentorship Program

The call for applications is out for the 2018-19 Mentorship Program! The VANS Mentorship Program is designed to support the individual artistic methods and professional ambitions of emerging artists in Nova Scotia by providing access to the skills and experience of selected mentors. Basing its structure on similar pioneer programs such as CARFAC Saskatchewan’s Visual…

“Matte, Satin, Gloss” by Kate Grey

Matte, Satin, Gloss is a collection of familiar household objects made by emerging ceramic artist Kate Grey. Grey’s work often examines the relationship between how we view objects, primarily household objects, and women. The objects in this exhibition,  including ceramic books with various made-up titles, are organized by their surface quality, optical lens and natural…

“Flock” by Ben Mosher

Flock is emerging artist Ben Mosher‘s exhibition featuring drawings of birds that will definitely make you smile. This delightful impromptu exhibition is only on for two weeks so catch it at the Corridor Gallery before it closes on January 30. Of the series, Mosher says: Flock is series of bird drawings; encouraging, odd small works…

VANS Mentorship Program Receives Protégé Award

At the 2017 Creative Nova Scotia Awards Gala, Susan Gibson Garvey was awarded the Portia White Prize, which recognizes cultural and artistic excellence on the part of a Nova Scotian artist who has attained professional status, mastery and recognition in their discipline. The $25,000 prize consists of a primary recipient who is an established artist…

Moving Forward, Looking B(l)ack: Visual Art in Nova Scotia

A panel discussion featuring women who curate, create, and activate. With Pamela Edmonds, Lucie Chan, Bria Miller, and Jade Peek. Facilitated by Sylvia Hamilton. Friday, October 13, 2017 at 7:00pm Halifax North Memorial Library, 2285 Gottingen Street, Halifax Doors open at 6:30pm. Refreshments will be served. No ticket required. Presented by Visual Arts Nova Scotia,…

2017-18 Mentorship Program

Mentees: NAT chantel NAT chantel is an African Nova Scotian emerging artist in multimedia, textiles and sculpture. Collections of written language influence and direct her to recount historical experiences of oppression, silence, and marginalization, that draw into question the narratives of racial and feminist ideologies. Her work speaks to imposed societal structures that inform identity,…

“Anguish and Rapture” – Hannah Genosko

Emerging artist Hannah Genosko exhibits a series of work exploring experiences of revelation through the perspective of invented outsider artist named Elevia Anne Mitchell. A portion of the work is made from Elevia’s perspective, imagining she used artwork to process her secluded life, visions, and dreams. It blurs the line between religious fervor and mental…