Artists from across the nation have been named as finalists for an art exhibition held in British Columbia.

The Salt Spring National Art Prize (SSNAP), established in 2015, announced the 52 artists from across Canada whose work has been chosen for the 2021-2022 biennial competition and exhibition, based on Salt Spring Island.

SSNAP founding director Ronald T. Crawford stated that the jury has been interested to see how the pandemic has influenced artists—and how that manifests.

“We’ve noted how the lockdowns have directly or indirectly influenced the themes of many works, similar to artistic expression during times of war,” Crawford said in a news release. “Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there’s been a lack of venues and places where artistic works can be showcased; we’re excited with the 40 percent increase in submissions and the diversity of artists chosen in 2021.”

The finalists are eligible for 10 awards (six chosen by juries and four selected by public voting), with up to $41,000 in prizes.

The Salt Spring Prize, also known as The Joan McConnell Award, will be presented at the gala awards event at Mahon Hall on Salt Spring Island on October 23.

The fourth biennial SSNAP Exhibition will open on September 24 and continue until October 25. It'll be held both online and at the historic Mahon Hall (166 Lower Ganges Road) on Salt Spring Island (subject to pandemic health restrictions).

Full details are available at the SSNAP website. 

The SSNAP finalists for 2021-2022 include:

New Brunswick

Ralph Simpson (Fredericton)

Nova Scotia

Celine Gabrielle (Wolfville) 

Quebec

Paul Nadeau (Outremont)

Ontario

Olivia Brouwer (Hamilton)

Monique Campbell  (Hamilton)

Charles Choi (Whitby)

Michael Nicholas Francis Cywink (Ingersoll)

Christine De Vuono (Guelph)

Michel Dumont (Thunder Bay)

Mitchell Fenton (Toronto)

Laurena Finéus (Ottawa)

Ella Gonzales (Pickering)

Noelle Hamlyn (Mississauga)

Kasia Latos (Midland)

Sandy Middleton (St. Catharines)

Sherry Park (Brampton)

Dorion Scott (Toronto)

Richard Talbot (Hamilton)

Steve Wilson (Niagara Falls)

Manitoba

Katherine Boyer (Winnipeg)

Saskatchewan

Carol Wylie (Saskatoon)

Alberta

Cecilia Barboza (Calgary)

Glenna Cardinal (Tsuut'ina)

Lauren Crazybull (Amiskwaciwâskahikan, Treaty 6 Territory, Edmonton)

Devonn Drossel (Edmonton)

Lucas Hale (Calgary)

Jacqueline Huskisson (Calgary)

Sunroop Kaur (Calgary)

Heather Leier (Calgary)

Dona Schwartz –(Calgary)

British Columbia

Maria-Margaretta Boucher (Vancouver)

David Gluck (Duncan)

Colton Hash (Victoria)

Kelly Haydon (Vancouver)

Edward Hughes (Victoria)

Connie Kuhns (Salt Spring Island)

Connie Morey (Victoria)

Virginia Morgan (Hazelton)

Kriss Munsya (Burnaby)

Jamie Oosterhuis (Victoria)

Joanna Rogers (Pender Island)

Laura Rosengren (Chilliwack)

Klehwetua Rodney Sayers (Hupačasath First Nation, Port Alberni)

Nicole Sleeth (Victoria)

Michelle Sound (Burnaby)

Kali Spitzer (Vancouver)

Erin Stagg (Prince George)

Kim Stewart (Kamloops)

Yukon

Rebekah Miller (Dawson City)

Canadian citizens resident in other countries

Anna Belleforte (Amersfoort, Netherlands)

Jean-René Leblanc and Eve Chartrand (Bainbridge, Washington State)

Alessandro Tomassetti (Barcelona, Spain)