Katherine MacNeill, a member of the Oliver Community Arts Council, is having a winning autumn. Skilled as a mixed media collage artist, Katherine recently took home a coveted jury prize at the biennial Salt Spring National Art Prize (SSNAP), organized by one of the premier arts communities in Canada. Her submission, “Offroad East of Oyama BC”  was among the 50 shortlisted by an independent jury over the summer, out of a huge field of 2,000 works of art from across the country.

Eight winners were announced at the Gala Awards Night on Salt Spring Island on Saturday, October 21, 2017. Five awards were selected by jurors, and MacNeill’s work was one of these.  Three other works were selected by public vote.

In her artist statement, MacNeill explains: “My collages involve the collection, assembly and gluing of torn or cut paper and other recycled materials to recreate, for the most part, close and personal images of landscapes on canvas. Reusing old calendars, discarded magazines and books gives new vitality to re-purposed consumer goods.”

Katherine MacNeill also took home “Best in Show” and first prize in Mixed/Other Media at the Fall Art Show and Sale on September 30.