Edmonton arts writer Agnieszka Matejko has been nominated for a 2023 Canadian Online Publishing Award (COPA) for a photo essay, Big Art, Big Smiles, she created for Galleries West in July 2023. The award is in the consumer category for best photo journalism.
Agnieszka Matejko
Former Galleries West editor Portia Priegert is also nominated for her work on the story.
For the essay, Matejko toured around the prairies, researching and photographing the gigantic roadside attractions that dot Western Canada — a giant mosquito, a Ukrainian Easter egg, the world's largest sausage statue, to name just a few.
"I am thrilled that Galleries West gave me the opportunity to go outside of the typical white-walled gallery setting and look at art in the middle of wheat fields. It was a road trip pilgrimage," Matejko says. "I wanted to honour all the town council members, artists and volunteers whose efforts led to erecting these well-loved prairie icons. This makes the nomination all the more meaningful."
Matejko is an Edmonton community-based artist whose practice focuses on youth and children as well as engaging non-arts groups in public art projects. She has taught at MacEwan University and the University of Alberta.
Source: Canadian Online Publishing Awards
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