Like Dog Day Afternoon without all the crying transvestites. Attica! Attica!

RBC names semi-finalists in the tenth annual RBC Canadian Painting Competition

Jury selects from over 600 artists across the country

 TORONTO, July 2 /CNW/ - RBC, with the support of the Canadian Art
Foundation, today announced the semi-finalists in the tenth annual RBC
Canadian Painting Competition - the largest competition of its kind in Canada
awarding a total of $145,000. The paintings were chosen from more than 1,200
works that were submitted by more than 600 artists from across the country.
The semi-finalists are:

Eastern Canada:
- Jeanie Riddle of Montreal
- Wil Murray of Montreal
- Rick Leong of Montreal
- Justin Stephens of Montreal
- Patrick Howlett of Fredericton

Western Canada:
- Collin Johanson of Vancouver
- Lorenzo Pepito of Vancouver
- Eli Bornowsky of Vancouver
- Jeremy Hof of Vancouver
- Andrew Dadson of Vancouver

Central Canada:
-   Martin Golland of Toronto
-   Sarah Jane Gorlitz of Toronto
-   Amanda Reeves of Oakville
-   Drew Simpson of Toronto
-   Emmy Skensved of Toronto

    To celebrate the competition's 10th anniversary
Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaelle Jean, Governor General of
Canada, has lent her patronage to this event. The winner will be announced at
the first stop of the national tour at the National Gallery in Ottawa this
September. The national winner will receive a $25,000 prize, the two
honourable mentions will each receive a $15,000 prize, and exclusive to the
10th anniversary event, the 12 semi-finalists will each receive a prize of
$7,500.
"The RBC Canadian Painting Competition was established in 1999 as a
catalyst for the careers of many emerging Canadian artists," said Gordon M.
Nixon, president and CEO, RBC. "Over the past 10 years, the competition has
brought to the forefront the works of artists that may have otherwise gone
unrecognized, setting a strong example of what can be achieved when Canada's
arts and business communities come together."
Submissions were accepted from professional and practicing visual
Canadian artists who are within the first five years of their careers. The RBC
Canadian Painting Competition is judged by some of the most respected artists,
gallery directors and curators in Canada.
As in past years, the works of the national winner and the two honourable
mentions will become part of the RBC art collection to be displayed in RBC
locations across the country. This year, in honour of the competition's 10th
anniversary and the Governor General's patronage, the 12 semi-finalists' works
will become a part of the Canadiana Fund's Crown Collection and be displayed
in the Official Residences including Rideau Hall, 24 Sussex, Harrington Lake
(lac Mousseau), The Farm at Kingsmere, Stornoway, 7 Rideau Gate and The
Citadel.
"This is an exceptional year for the RBC Canadian Painting Competition as
it celebrates its 10th year and the Canadian Art Foundation is proud to
continue to be a part of this great Canadian tradition," said Ann Webb,
executive director, Canadian Art Foundation. "The RBC Canadian Painting
Competition continues to introduce Canadians to some of our country's finest
artists early in their careers, providing us with the rare opportunity to
watch these talented individuals grow and mature in their practice."
The winners will be announced this September in Ottawa, kicking off the
national public touring exhibition at prominent galleries at the following
locations:

The National Gallery of Canada
Ottawa, ON
September 13 - 25, 2008                 

Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal
Montréal, Québec
October 9 - 19, 2008

Museum London
London, Ontario
October 22 - November 2, 2008

The Power Plant
Toronto, Ontario
November 11 - 23, 2008

The Rooms
St. John's, Newfoundland
December 1, 2008 - January 4, 2009

Mendel Art Gallery
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
January 16 - February 1, 2009

Art Gallery of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta
February 7 - 22, 2009

Contemporary Art Gallery
Vancouver, British Columbia
March 26 - April 3, 2009


All semi-finalists will be featured in Canadian Art magazine and on the
web at: rbc.com and at www.canadianart.ca.