By Don Urquhart, Times-Chronicle
Grade 11 Osoyoos Secondary School student Prabhnoor Samra took home the top prize and a $500 cheque for her winning entry titled ‘Suburban Sunset’ in The Art Gallery Osoyoos’ inaugural Poster Contest.
Samra’s painting will be reproduced as a signed, limited edition poster of which 100 copies will be sold at the gallery from noon on Saturday, Jan. 22.
Her artwork, which drew inspiration from Osoyoos sunsets and the acclaimed metal sculpture ‘The Chief’ outside the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre, was chosen by a panel of jurors from a total of 12 entries.
With the signature and other artist references covered, the three independent jurors from Penticton and Summerland judged the ‘anonymous’ pieces which were required to portray scenes of Osoyoos.
Prabhnoor Samra holds a sample of the limited edition print of her winning painting ‘Suburban Sunset’ which will go on sale Saturday, Jan. 22.
This is the first time the gallery has held such a contest with plans already set for another poster event next year, according to the show’s curator, Claudia Punter.
Comments from the judging panel described the winning artwork as “inspiring, beautiful colour choices, interesting and tells a story.”
When asked what inspired her in creating the painting, Samra said: “Osoyoos has such strong ties to the Indigenous community and we always have the best sunsets; if you ask any of the tourists they always comment on it, so I thought a good way of tying both of those together was by having a sunset and capturing the Indigenous sculpture that we have.
She created the painting with oil pastels striving to mimic a Vincent van Gogh style with “very staggered and individualistic lines and I thought the silhouette would be very powerful in contrast to the very bright colours in the background and it would really make a statement,” she said.
She’s been painting for as long as she can remember and in fact, even earlier as her parents Manpreet and Manjit Samra laugh at the memories of their young daughter painting the lower levels of all the walls at home.
“It’s definitely something I want to keep in my life as I grow up and maybe I’ll open a gallery of my own one day,” she said with bubbly enthusiasm, “but my end goal is cardiothoracic surgery.” It seems the art world may have to wait a little bit.
“We are really proud of her,” her mom Manpreet said, adding that winning the top prize has given her daughter “a lot of encouragement to learn and do better.”
When asked about what might appear to be a conflict between her daughter’s artistic talent and her ambition of becoming a highly specialized surgeon, Manpreet said: “she thinks a fine hand in art will go with a fine hand in surgeries.
“And it can always be a good hobby for her or a career choice. She absolutely enjoys and loves doing it. Whatever she wants to do, we’re all behind her.”
Presenting the cheque to Prabhnoor on behalf of the art gallery committee, Osoyoos Mayor Sue McKortoff said: “What an interesting way to showcase what Osoyoos has to offer,” adding that she was very impressed with all the artwork submitted. “Well done, you’ve done an amazing job and please continue,” she urged the young artist.
The Poster Contest show is now on and will conclude on Saturday, Jan. 22. The gallery is now on non-summer hours and is open from noon to 4 p.m. from Tuesday to Saturday.
