Arts Events at Telus WSSF a Hit
Whistler, BC - Thousands were entertained this year by the awe-inspiring arts events at Whistler as part of the TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival.
The multi-media events at the Festival have been growing in emphasis and
strength each year and this year, more than 4000 people were drawn to the
sold-out events - the Pro Photographer Search and Showdown, presented by
Sony, the Words and Stories event, Exposure Photography Seminars,
Interactive Showdown and the Panasonic Filmmaker Showdown.
"What started out as a small introduction to connect sport to the art that
supports it, has now grown into a main focus of our Festival," said the
Festival's chairman Doug Perry. The Festival is not just about snowsports
anymore - it's about experiencing the many layers of the snowsports culture - the sport, the art, and the music."
Pro Photographer Search, presented by Sony, April 14-15: From 38 entries,
the 6 finalists chosen by judges to present their work for the Pro
Photographer Search on Monday and Tuesday were: Sterling Lorence, Vancouver,
BC; Peter Moynes, Slocan, BC; Ryan Creary, Canmore, AB; Jonathan Selkowitz,
Jackson, WY; Dave Humphreys, Squamish, BC; and Matt Power, Aspen, CO. Each
of the photographers led a captivated crowd through 12-minute presentations,
choreographed to music. Their inspiring presentations took the audience
through the eyes of the photographer's lens into the world of action
photography. On April 15, in front of an audience of more than 1000,
Sterling Lorence was announced as The Best of Show winner for 2003.
Pro Photographer Showdown, presented by Sony, April 17: Held in the plush
setting of the Fairmont Chateau Whistler's MacDonald Ballroom, three
internationally renowned photographers and The Search Best of Show winner
Sterling Lorence presented their 12-minute slide show to a sold-out crowd of
over 1200 people. The three invited Showdown contenders were Hawaiian-based
surf photographer Warren Bolster, Swedish-based outdoors photographer
Mattias Fredriksson, and skateboarding photographer Jon Humphries (Portland,
Oregon).
A shy winner, Humphries said there were no real winners as it was so hard to
judge art. Humphries, 28, praised his mentors including fellow skateboard
photographer J. Grant Brittain and an old highschool friend who both
inspired him to progress his depiction of the urban sport and culture of
skateboarding. Showdown judges commented that Humphries was always pushing
the envelope and showed a particularly perceptive eye for profiles.