The 2019 Hazee Competition Artist of the Year winner youth Landis Roan is shown with her creation called She Goes Home. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Honouring young artists

Young talent awarded at new Hazee Youth Art Competition

May 3, 2019 | 12:41 PM

It was an exciting evening for many young artists Thursday when the winners of the inaugural Hazee Youth Art Competition were announced.

Landis Roan was announced as the artist of the year for her piece called She Goes Home with a cash prize of $500.

“I never expected to win it,” the Grade 10 student said after receiving the top award. Her name is now listed as the 2019 winner on the ceremonial plaque recognizing the top award winners for each year.

Roan’s acrylic painting, which featured the Cree words for ‘going home’, was a tribute to her mother who was depicted in vivid, festive regalia returning home from the powwow.

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Rob Rongve and his wife Nora launched the competition at a ceremony and exhibition at the Chapel Gallery in honour of Hazel “Hazee” Asmussen — a local artist who passed away 10 years ago.

“It’s to celebrate art and artists in the community and hopefully encourage kids to take up the arts and show off what they can do,” he said.

Left to right, Don Asmussen (Hazel Asmussen’s son), Artist of the Year winner Landis Roan, and Nora and Rob Rongve at the show, Thursday. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Twenty-three pieces were entered in the competition featuring work by youth in Grades 6 to 12, and a first year university student in the Battlefords and surrounding area.

The Runner Up award winner was Katie Dyck for Community in Perspective, with a $300 prize.

Runner-Up Award Winner Katie Dyck with her artwork. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

The two winners of the Creative Excellence Award with a $100 prize each were Savannah Pierre-Weenie and Peter Curley Okemow.

Honourable Mention recipients with prizes of $50 each were awarded to four youth: Alex Obrowsky, Prezlee Wahobin, Kate Fransoo and Alexis Coady.

The theme for the show was My Connection to My Community. Eight judges including Rob Rongve himself selected the winners for the competition that in total offered more than $1,000 in prizes.

Creative Excellence Award winner Savannah Pierre-Weenie with her submission. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Rongve was a long-time friend of Asmussen and owns some of her creations as well.

“Her artwork is beautiful,” he said. “She was very talented.”

Creative Excellence Award winner Peter Curley Okemow. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Asmussen was also well known in the community as a nurse at the Battlefords Union Hospital where she worked for many years before she retired.

“She loved life,” said Rongve.

Hazel Asmussen’s son Don Asmussen was visiting from Minneapolis where he now resides to attend the event.

”I’m thrilled to be here, and very grateful to Rob and Nora for putting this together,” he said.

Don said the Rongves’ work in creating the youth art competition is a wonderful contribution to the community, and “a great honour that they named it after my mother.”

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow