Duncan Brooks, a 2020 graduate of Holland College’s Graphic Design program, was recently named a regional winner in the BMO 1st Art! competition.
BMO 1st Art! celebrates the creativity of art school students from over 100 post-secondary institutions across Canada. Every year BMO Financial Group invites the deans and instructors of undergraduate-level certificate, diploma, or degree programmes in studio art to select three graduating students whose ability and imagination place them first among their peers.
Each student completes submission materials and sends digital images of a recent work to BMO Financial Group’s Art Collection Unit by the submission deadline. The selection committee reviews the submissions and chooses one winner from every province and territory, and a national winner is also chosen. The national winner is awarded $15,000 and each regional winner receives $7,500.
Brooks received the award for his sculpture Empty Steps, which is made of salvaged wood and nails.
"My piece was inspired by my fascination with everyday structures. I had been taking note of the many different staircases I encountered daily and wanted to create something related to them," he said. "When COVID-19 came and locked PEI down, I drove around the countryside every day and started visiting the falling-down properties that litter the landscape. Seeing them in such a state of disrepair was saddening and I felt the need to repurpose the old material. To build a set of steps with the decaying wood seemed all too natural."
Graphic Design instructor April Condon said that she was delighted but not surprised that Brooks received the award.
“Holland College has been training graphic designers for more than 50 years, and many of the over 400 alumni of this program have gone on to have distinguished careers in the industry. Duncan is a fine example of the quality of our graduates,” she said.
For more information about this release, please contact:
Greg Arsenault, Director - Marketing and Communications
Tel: 902-566-9615
Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2020
