Being recognized for the quality of their art work is an amazing feeling say StFX students Mila Walst, Sydney Haws and Britt Pigat, the 2021 recipients of the Angus F. Macgillivray Art Bursary, which recognizes outstanding studio production and encourages artists showing promise in the visual arts.
The $750 annual bursaries are named in honour of the late Angus F. Macgillivray, an exceptional artist, teacher and StFX fine arts department faculty member. Applicants for the award must submit a sketchbook and six finished artworks. Judges look for a mastery of skill in a variety of art mediums as well a sense of cohesive artistic vision.
“The Macgillivray Art Bursary has not only made a difference financially, but it has also heightened my drive and effort to make art a part of my future,” says Ms. Walst, a sophomore psychology student from New Glasgow, NS, who’s had the opportunity to take Art and Design (ART 115) last semester and Introduction to Drawing (ART 102) this semester “and loved every minute of it!”
Ms. Walst says she has used art to destress and let out her creativity “and I am honoured that my art has been acknowledged by StFX.”
Ms. Haws, a second year human kinetics student from Aurora, ON, has taken an intro to design course as well as a drawing class. “I love art so much that I've decided to take it as my minor as well,” says Ms Haws. “To win this bursary means a lot. I am honoured to receive this reward and I plan to use some of the bursary towards more art supplies and towards my schooling.”
Ms. Pigat, a second year student from Horseshoe Valley, ON studying aquatic resources, took the intro to design course her first year at StFX and both Drawing 1 and 2 first semester and this past semester. For this bursary, she primarily submitted her photography work (five photographs and one drawing).
“Photography has been my passion and way of income for the past few years now, and it couldn’t have been more meaningful to have won this bursary with some of my favourite work,” she says. “This bursary not only helps me pay for my schooling, but also brings me so much joy and happiness. It truly means the world to me that my passion, love, and work was noticed and rewarded by StFX.”
