Latest news with #People'sChoice
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Artist goes from nerve pain to people's champ
Winning the Archibald Prize People's Choice award is hard enough, but doing it with a painting method you've never tried before adds another level of achievement. Loribelle Spirovski was forced to abandon the paint brush and take matters into her own hands to develop Thursday's winning portrait of Indigenous composer and didgeridoo player William Barton. Suffering from thoracic outlet syndrome, causing nerve pain in her extremities, she became inspired to drop the brush and try the simpler method of finger-painting to soothe her strained hands as Barton's music played in her studio. "As soon as I heard his voice come out, artists talk about feeling possessed, feeling taken over by something intangible," Spirovski told AAP. "I physically threw the brush away ... it was the most fun I've ever had painting." A seven-time entrant into the Archibald Prize, Australia's most prestigious portrait competition, Spirovski's work topped the People's Choice vote. More than 40,000 people voted, the highest ever tally in the 37-year history of the award. Her abstract winner comes as a surprise in a category where photorealistic portraits of well-known celebrities often attract more fans. "It was so heartening for me that the Australian public would go for something a little more challenging if it's emotionally captivating," she said. News of the win came at a busy time for didgeridoo virtuoso Barton, who was finishing a European tour with the Australian Youth Orchestra, but he still found time to share his musical talent at the presentation. "It's about that feeling I want to give people each and every day through the power of music," he told AAP. Spirovski takes home $5000 for winning the People's Choice award and says she hopes to be back in the running at next year's exhibition. "If I find the right person, the right circumstances are there, and they feel energetic and interesting, absolutely," she said. The finalists in the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes will be exhibited at the Art Gallery of NSW until August 17 before touring regional galleries. The $100,000 Archibald Prize went to four-time finalist Julie Fragar whose portrait of fellow artist Justene Williams depicts the artist floating among the stars above the materials of making art, her daughter looking on. Abdul Abdullah meanwhile snatched the $3000 Packing Room Prize with a fantastical snapshot of mate Jason Phu atop a loose-tongued horse and surrounded by rainbow-coloured birds.
The Province
a day ago
- Sport
- The Province
Team Nova Scotia wins 2025 Celebration of Light fireworks competition
Organizers warn Vancouver's annual fireworks show might be in jeopardy due to decreased public funding More than 1.2 million people watch the three-night Honda Celebration of Light festival along the waterfront of English Bay. Photo by Douglas Quan / PNG The team from Nova Scotia has been named the winner of the 2025 Honda Celebration of Light after a three-night all-Canadian fireworks competition in Vancouver's English Bay. Teams from Yukon, Quebec and Nova Scotia oohed and aahed the more than 1.2 million people who watched the spectacular pyrotechnics display light up the skies over downtown Vancouver on July 19, 23, and 26. Team Fireworks FX of Nova Scotia won both the People's Choice and Judge's Competition Award with what organizers described as a 'stunning, tightly choreographed performance.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors The team earned 633 points, ahead of Team Yukon, which placed second with 598 points and Team Quebec, at 592 points. The Celebration of Light fireworks competition is the longest-running offshore fireworks competition in the world, drawing more than a million people annually and generating more than $265 million in economic activity, said organizers. The $3 million event is produced by Vancouver-based BrandLive Management Group and overseen by the volunteer-run Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society. Since the pandemic, production costs have increased by more than 30 per cent, while provincial funding is expected to drop from $250,000 to $100,000 next year, organizers said. Federal funding was not available for 2025. 'Given these challenges, we can't confirm whether the event will return in 2026,' said executive producer Paul Runnels in a statement. 'What's urgently needed is a sustainable and predictable funding model that recognizes the cultural and economic value of events like this.' chchan@ Read More Vancouver Whitecaps Vancouver Canucks Local News Vancouver Canucks Golf
Vancouver Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
Team Nova Scotia wins 2025 Celebration of Light fireworks competition
The team from Nova Scotia has been named the winner of the 2025 Honda Celebration of Light after a three-night all-Canadian fireworks competition in Vancouver's English Bay. Teams from Yukon, Quebec and Nova Scotia oohed and aahed the more than 1.2 million people who watched the spectacular pyrotechnics display light up the skies over downtown Vancouver on July 19, 23, and 26. Team Fireworks FX of Nova Scotia won both the People's Choice and Judge's Competition Award with what organizers described as a 'stunning, tightly choreographed performance.' A post shared by Honda Celebration of Light (@celeboflight) The team earned 633 points, ahead of Team Yukon, which placed second with 598 points and Team Quebec, at 592 points. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The Celebration of Light fireworks competition is the longest-running offshore fireworks competition in the world, drawing more than a million people annually and generating more than $265 million in economic activity, said organizers. The $3 million event is produced by Vancouver-based BrandLive Management Group and overseen by the volunteer-run Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society. Since the pandemic, production costs have increased by more than 30 per cent, while provincial funding is expected to drop from $250,000 to $100,000 next year, organizers said. Federal funding was not available for 2025. 'Given these challenges, we can't confirm whether the event will return in 2026,' said executive producer Paul Runnels in a statement. 'What's urgently needed is a sustainable and predictable funding model that recognizes the cultural and economic value of events like this.' chchan@
Forbes
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
20 Great Wildlife Photos To Vote For Your Favorite In The Win BigPicture Contest
Look At Me!, People's Choice Award finalist, Ishigaki-Island, Japan; A young Clownfish peers out from the shelter of a sea anemone. Reiko Takahashi Japan - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition The BigPicture Nature World Photography Competition by the California Academy of Sciences is inviting wildlife and nature photography lovers from around the world to have their say and vote for their favorite wildlife photos to win this year's prestigious People's Choice Award. From a young clownfish peering out from the shelter of a sea anemone and an argonaut fish hitching a ride on an unsuspecting jellyfish to the artistic silhouettes of four wolves traversing a snowy landscape in Yellowstone, the 20 finalist images selected by the contest's judges offer powerful insight into the remarkable beauty of nature. The voting for the 2025 People's Choice Award is open until midnight July 31. The winner — the photographer whose image garners the most votes — will receive $300 and have their image and profile featured on the BigPicture website. Their photograph will also be featured in the interactive BigPicture Exhibition on view at the California Academy of Sciences starting in fall, 2025. The BigPicture Nature World Photography contest, now in its 12th year, strives to inspire viewers to value and protect the remarkable diversity of life on Earth. It welcomes high-quality nature, wildlife and conservation images and is open to photographers around the world. Forbes Funny Animal Photos: 10 Front Runners For Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2025 By Cecilia Rodriguez Scroll down to see all of the images, then vote for your favorite on the voting form here. Aspen Shadow, People's Choice finalist, Yellowstone National Park, U.S. Four wolves traverse Yellowstone's snowy landscape. Devon Pradhuman, U.S. - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition Four wolves traverse the snowy landscape of Yellowstone Park in the U.S. in search of their next meal. Their presence echoes through the minimalist beauty of snow and Aspen trees. Wolves are a polarizing subject regarding the lands they roam. In Yellowstone, they're relatively safe from human harm. However, just outside the park boundaries anything goes. There's no way for these animals to see the invisible lines humans mark as a 'boundary' and because of that, there is much contention about the management of these beautiful animals. Blue Dream, People's Choice finalist, Qilian Mountain National Park, China. Haiyong Cai, China - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition A group of common meadow blue butterflies rests on the grassland, appearing at first glance like a large field of blooming flowers. Relaxing in the Snow, People's Choice finalist, Wapusk National Park, Canada. Daniel Valverde Fernandez, Spain - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition Despite the unfavorable conditions of the Canadian tundra, this polar bear looks surprisingly tranquil and relaxed as it shakes off a considerable sheet of snow that has fallen on it during a big storm. Hitchhiker, People's Choice finalist, Ningaloo, Australia. An argonaut hitches a ride upon an unsuspecting Bell jellyfish. Caitlin Winskil, Australia - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition An argonaut, a type of octopus also called 'paper nautili' — a distant relative of the true 'nautili' — hitches a ride upon an unsuspecting bell jellyfish. Argonauts are open-sea octopi, which is odd as bell jellyfish are often found in harbors closer to shore. It's anyone's guess how this argonaut ended up hitching a ride, but it makes for one spectacular photo. In Mother's Arms, People's Choice finalist, La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica Dvir Barkay, U.S. - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition A baby brown-throated sloth sleeps in the protective embrace of its mother's arms, ensuring it doesn't get wet during a downpour. Circle of Life, People's Choice finalist, Murcia, Spain. Angel Fitor, Spain - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition A poignant portrait of the duality of life and death: A dying barrel jellyfish rests on a weed bed as thousands of newly born Mediterranean jellyfish bloom all around it. Cicada Awakening, People's Choice finalist. Illinois, U.S. Gavin Koester, U.S. - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition A rare and striking moment: A massive cluster of yellow mushrooms at the base of a tree is surrounded by an overwhelming number of pharaoh cicadas. Despite their numbers, the cicadas seamlessly integrate with their environment, almost blending with the landscape, a reminder of the complexity and interconnectedness of nature, where even the most familiar species can create something awe-inspiring when they appear in such abundance. Pathfinders, People's Choice finalist, Svalbard, Norway. Jonas Beyer, Denmark - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition A pod of Beluga whales glides gracefully through the frigid waters of a broken fjord, their white forms contrasting against the deep, icy blue. As they move in unison, threading their way through the maze of shifting ice, they embody the resilience and adaptability needed to survive in the ever-changing Arctic. Trapped, People's Choice finalist. Lucerne, Swizterland. Roman Willi, Switzerland - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition A wasp spider feeds on its prey in a meadow. As the name suggests, these spiders are known for their distinctive yellow, white, and black markers and are remarkable orb-web weavers. The Frigatebird, People's Choice finalist, Vancouver, Canada. Liron Gertsman, Canada - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition A magnificent frigatebird glides in front of a total solar eclipse. Over a year in the making, this image is all the more impressive once you learn that the eclipse is in a brief phase called the "Diamond Ring," where the slightest bit of sun is visible at the edge of the moon — meaning this photographer had only seconds to snap this spectacular shot. Vulture Restaurant 9, People's Choice finalist, Kawasoti, Nepal. Alain Schroeder, France - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition Team members of the Jatayu Vulture Restaurant weigh a wounded Himalayan vulture . The first community-managed vulture restaurant, Jatayu Vulture Restaurant is a space specifically designed for vultures to be fed and nurtured in safety. It was established after the numbers of vultures were reduced from more than a million to just 20,000. Once this vulture has fully healed, it will be released back into the wild. Big Hair Day, People's Choice finalist, Tatamá National Park, Colombia. Nick Kanakis, U.S. - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition A flannel moth caterpillar munches on moss while cocooned in the soft tangle of hair-like setae. While it may look fluffy and harmless, these setae in fact conceal venom-filled spines that produce a nasty sting. Urchin Spines, People's Choice finalist, Hokkaido, Japan. Sayaka Ichinoseki, Japan - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition What looks like a futuristic landscape is actually an extreme close-up of a purple sea urchin. These spike-like structures are actually moveable spines, alternating long and short, which the urchin uses not only for defense but as a means of transport as well. Dance of the Elements, People's Choice finalist. Mount Edna, Sicily, Italy. Philipp Egger, Italy - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition Mount Etna is one of the tallest and most active volcanoes in Europe, making it a difficult subject for photographers, between battling toxic smoke and unpredictable winds at nearly 12,000 feet altitude. A primeval titan, its lava flow typically rests under a blanket of snow during the winter, but on this day the fiery soul of the volcano broke through. Sniff, People's Choice finalist, Victoria, Australia. Doug Gimesy, Australia -nBigPicture Natural World Photography Competition Border collie conservation detector dog Raasay undertakes kayak training with her handler Tracy to sniff out invasive aquatic weeds such as common cordgrass. Whenever Raasay finds a patch of spartina, she'll sit, lie down, or — if atop a kayak — point with her nose to alert her handler. Tracy will then log their location with GPS coordinates and that data point will be added to a detailed map of common cordgrass sightings slated for removal. Maternal Huddle, People's Choice finalist. California, U.S. Anton Sorokin, U.S. - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition A glimpse into the unseen lives of amphibians: female California newts gather together in a ball as they lay their eggs at the bottom of a pond. This pond is more than likely the one in which these newts originated from, as newts tend to return to their own hatchplace to lay their eggs. Nuptial Gift, People's Choice finalist. Goronogosa National Park, Mozambique. Piotr Naskrecki, U.S. - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition During mating, a male Armored katydid presents the female with a spermatophylax, a nuptial gift in the form of a large, nutritious package produced by the male. The female will consume this gift, the purpose for which has been hotly debated as there's no explicit benefit beyond securing paternal investment. Fortress, People's Choice finalist. Emilia Romagna, Italy. Iacopo Nerozzi, Italy - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition A masterpiece of animal engineering: This pile of woodland debris is actually an enormous nest curated by Red wood ants. These big nests are made up of respective sections above and below the ground, which red wood ants create by burrowing into the earth, as well as accumulating needles, leaves, bark, and twigs. Powerless, People's Choice finalist, Diepenbeek, Belgium. Niki Colemont, Belgium - BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition While photographing another subject in a garden, Niki Colemont spotted a robber fly near a spider web. Curious if the fly might land in the web, he decided to stay and observe, eventually watching a quiet drama unfold as the spider made its move. Colemont was able to capture the moment. To vote for your favorite image from these 20 wildlife photos for the 2025 People's Choice Award of the BigPicture Photo Competition, go to the voting form here. MORE FROM FORBES Forbes World Naked Bike Ride: A Protest Against 'Indecent Exposure' To Car Culture By Cecilia Rodriguez Forbes Nature From Above: 20 Amazing Winners Of International Aerial Photography Contest By Cecilia Rodriguez Forbes Spiritual Tourism: 8 Iconic European Pilgrimage Routes And Ancient Trails By Cecilia Rodriguez
Otago Daily Times
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Sam Young claims art expo award
Sam Young was presented with the People's Choice winner's certificate by Mark Glanville, representing award sponsor John Rhind Kaiapoi, at the Corcoran French Kaiapoi Art Expo in Kaiapoi. PHOTO: NIKKI PARKER A Canterbury artist's work has won the hearts of visitors to the Corcoran French Kaiapoi Art Expo. Mandeville artist Sam Young's painting Incapable of Change was named the People's Choice award winner. It was the first time Sam - who was the guest artist at the 2023 expo - had won the prestigious award. ''I was runner up a few years ago, so it was great to get the most votes this time around,'' he says. ''I was very pleased with how this piece turned out and I was excited to get it on display to see how people reacted to it and it obviously stood out enough to get the votes.'' Sam always looks forward to the expo. ''It is a well-run event and is a great asset for the Waimakariri art scene.'' This year's event was held upstairs in the Kaiapoi Club. It ''couldn't have gone much better'' for Sam who also sold all of his pieces. ''It is always very satisfying selling out at a show and I really appreciate all the people who come through the doors to either buy art or to just have a look or to laugh at my stupid bio,'' he says. The expo, which was established in 2006, was organised by the Waimakariri Arts Trust and attracted large crowds to the town. ''Kaiapoi was absolutely buzzing,'' said WAT chair Jackie Watson. ''So many people took the opportunity to be inspired by our huge number of talented local artists. Every year the standard improves.'' Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon, who is known for purchasing local art and is a WAT trustee, was a guest speaker on the opening night of the expo last Friday. He said the small group of art lovers got together 19 years ago to see how they could promote art in Waimakariri - but never dreamed the expo would have such longevity. ''We never thought it would last this long or be so successful when we established it,'' he said. However, the popularity of the expo shows how art is very important to the community, too. Next year the expo will celebrate its 20th anniversary. Plans are already under way to hold an art extravaganza even more spectacular than the recent event.
