A Yukon story in paint and clay
May 3, 2021
Whitehorse, YT — A Whitehorse artist has earned a second top spot in Northwestel’s annual directory art contest. Amber Church’s artistic tribute to Yukon’s most prominent mountains, Yukon Time, has been selected for the front cover of the 2021/22 Northwestel phone directory for Yukon and Northern British Columbia.
A proud Yukoner since moving to the territory during her youth, Church scored her first Northwestel directory art contest win in 2012. Church insists that finding out she’d been chosen for the cover a second time was still just as exciting.
“I was absolutely excited. Yukon is blessed with an incredibly talented set of artists who work in diverse mediums. It felt amazing to win because I know how steep the competition is. Yukon is an amazing place, as an artist, and I feel really honoured to live in this community that is so supportive.”
As a winning directory cover artist, Church picks up a $5,000 prize from Northwestel. The selected artwork is a mixed medium piece made up of multiple materials, such as resin, polymer clay, watercolour and ink. Church explains the inspiration for Yukon Time came from a desire to explore and celebrate Yukon’s diverse landscapes.
“I was excited to create this piece to explore and celebrate Yukon’s landscape spatially and temporally. The sky tracks a 24-hour period while the mountains in the foreground represent four different locations throughout the territory in the four different seasons: Kluane in the winter; Montana Mountain in the spring; the Wind River in the summer; and Tombstone in the fall.”
An enthusiastic participant in the Yukon arts community, Church has studied with Robert Bateman and has pieces displayed in local galleries. She says winning the directory art contest again is an opportunity to share her talent with more northerners and a creative confidence boost.
“It’s a way to share art with a broader Yukon audience, which I really appreciate…I think everyone knows that ‘art’ is not the easiest thing to make a living at. Anytime you are lucky enough to be recognized in a way like this, it gives a real confidence boost and a push to keep going.”
Northwestel has been showcasing the talents of northern artists on its regional phone directory covers for more than 30 years.
“Northwestel is continuing its longstanding support for the arts community by showcasing northern artwork on the covers of phone directories in each of the regions where we operate,” says Northwestel’s President Curtis Shaw. “We are proud to spotlight the work of northern artists each year and share their creativity and talent in homes and businesses across the North.”
Information about picking up Northwestel directories
Directory availability in each community may vary due to the COVID-19 situation. Customers are advised to check with the directory pickup location in their community for availability and practice social distancing when picking up their directory. A list of designated pickup locations in each community is available at nwtel.ca/phone-books.
Northwestel directories can also be viewed online at edirectories.yp.ca
For more information
Northwestel Media Relations
media@nwtel.ca
1-867-455-4209
