Winners of 2011 Open Studio National Printmaking Awards Announced
Artist Rocky Zenyk Dobey Wins Top Prize for Canadian Printmakers

Rocky Zenyk Dobey, Fireworks, Etching, 22.5” x 29.75", 2011

Open Studio, Canada's leading printmaking centre, is pleased to announce the winners of the fourth annual Open Studio National Printmaking Awards, presented May 18, 2011 at Open Studio’s 26th annual 100 Prints fundraising event at the Palais Royale.  The winners are:

First Prize ($3,000): Rocky Zenyk Dobey (Toronto, ON)
Second Prize ($1,500): Erik Edson (Sackville, NB)
Third Prize ($500): Laine Groeneweg (Toronto, ON)

Open Studio National Printmaking Award nominees with jury members & 100 Prints Committee members (missing: second prize winner Erik Edson, honourable mention Libby Hague and jury member Dax Morrison).
(L to R): Rocky Zenyk Dobey (first prize); Susan Collett (honourable mention); Laine Groeneweg (third prize); Tara Cooper (honourable mention);jury member Robert Birch; Carainn Buchalter, 100 Prints Committee Co-Chair;
Bruce Freeman, 100 Prints Committee Co-Chair; Jennifer Bhogal, Open Studio's Executive Director; jury member Melony Ward.
Photo by Aaron Campbell

Artists Susan Collett (Toronto, ON), Tara Cooper (Toronto, ON) and Libby Hague (Toronto, ON) were also recognized with Honourable Mentions. Click here to view all of the shortlisted work.

“A heartfelt congratulations to the honourable mentions and the three award winners of the 2011 Open Studio National Printmaking Awards,” said Jennifer Bhogal, Executive Director of Open Studio.  “These awards are integral to Canada’s artistic fabric, setting a standard for excellence in the field of print-based media.”

The award winning prints were selected by a distinguished jury of Canadian arts professionals: Robert Birch, founding director of Birch Libralato (formerly Robert Birch Gallery); Toronto-based artist Dax Morrison; and Melony Ward, publisher of Canadian Art magazine and online properties. “As a juror, it was a treat to spend the day with 100 incredible works of art,” said Melony Ward. “Printmaking continues to thrive through Open Studio.”

The Open Studio National Printmaking Awards were launched in 2008 in response to a void in the artistic landscape left after the Ernst & Young Great Canadian Printmaking Competition came to an end in 2004.  Although awards exist to recognize Canadian artists working in other media, the conclusion of the Great Canadian Printmaking Awards meant that there was no longer an award for artists working specifically in print media.  As one of Canada’s leading printmaking centres, Open Studio was perfectly poised to take on the task of recognizing and rewarding the artistic talents that exist within the Canadian printmaking community, and so the Open Studio National Printmaking Awards were born. 

Open to all Canadian printmakers, the Open Studio National Printmaking Awards are presented in conjunction with Open Studio's annual 100 Prints event.  Combining elements of a fine art exhibition and a lottery, 100 Prints is a much-anticipated event in the Canadian arts community, and provides a chance for art lovers to come face to face with works from celebrated Canadian visual artists, as well as pieces by promising emerging talents.  It is also a major annual fundraiser for Open Studio, an artist-run, Toronto-based charitable organization that provides professional development opportunities for artists and promotes contemporary, original fine art prints.

Open Studio extends our gratitude to the sponsors and supporters of this year’s 100 Prints event:

Media Sponsor: Canadian Art

Printing Sponsor: Flash Reproductions

Gold Sponsors: BMO Capital Markets, Allison & Jason Chang, Dundee Real Estate Asset Management and TD Securities

Silver Sponsors: Anonymous, Avenue Dental, Akau Framing, Dr. Martin Bourgeois, Cassels Brock, Dr. Bruce Freeman, Goldman, Spring, Kichler & Sanders LLP, Implant Surgical Care/Lesley David Dentistry Corporation, Benjy Katz, Dr. Robert Klein, The Larry and Cookie Rossy Foundation, Rosenthal Zaretsky Niman and Co., LLP, Chartered Accountants, Royal York Orthodontic, Yorkville Toronto Dental Specialist

Event Donors: All the Best Fine Foods, The Art Gallery of Ontario, Asha Massage & Ayurvedic Healing, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Beer Barons, Dr. Marco Caminiti, Canadian Opera Company,Canadian Stage, George and Sandy Duarte at Churrasco Villa, CJ Lunch Box, Robbie Cooper, Dufflet Pastries, Eclipse Fitness Clubs, Evian, Factory Theatre, Fairmount Royal York, Jeremy Gawen, Hästens, Interior Design Show, The Japanese Paper Place, Ted Margel, Mirvish Productions, Moksha Yoga Danforth, The National Ballet, Nutcracker Sweet, Overcat Communications, Oyster Boy, Palmer Reed Accountants, The Paper Place, Pilates for Life, Porter Airlines, Sababa Fine Foods, Saman Design, Samuel Kleinberg Jewellers Inc., Segall Cosmetic Clinic, Stratford Festival, Penelope Stewart, Tarragon Theatre, Dr. Howard Tenenbaum, TIC Travel Insurance Coordinators Ltd., Timothy Johnson Design, Toronto School of Art, Umbra, Up In Frames, Variety Crossing Press, Gayle Wagman & Marc Milgrom, Winners, and Your Brand Integrated Marketing Communications