Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

 SANDRA BREWSTER NOW A FINALIST IN $60,000 CANADIAN PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD The Toronto Guyanese community is cheering onn Sandra Brewster, one of the three finalists for the 2023 Scotiabank Photography Award, Canada's largest and most prestigious annual peer-nominated prize for photographic art.   Brewster, who was born to Guyanese parents, is known for her work in drawing, video, photo-based works, and installation that explore themes of identity and representation. Her art is in demand by some of the world's top galleries, and her public sculpture "A Place to Put Your Things" is currently on view at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto. Sandra Brewster works in drawing, video, photo-based works, and installation. Her themes focus on identity and representation, and movement in the depiction of gesture resulting in a re-presentation of the portrait. She uses specific landscapes as metaphors, and manipulates old photographs to centre the people within them. NINA SIMONE BY BREWST

Shy Guy Alain Paiement   Pointing a YouTube camera in the faces of Canada’s BEST photographers (Huffington Post Blog by Stephen Weir) If you can get a photographer to talk, oh the stories you will hear... Over the years I have handled publicity assignments for some of Canada’s best known artists, authors, and, now and then, photographers.  Although one shouldn’t make sweeping generalities about the personality traits of red hot artists, when it come to photographers, the best cliché is “Mum’s the Word”. Authors know that the gift of the gab sells books, and for centuries, painters have been expected to attend their exhibitions. Sculptors appear larget than life – just like their carvings. But, photographers are different. Really different. Doesn’t matter what language. Open the dictionary to the word "shy" and it will likely read: photographer. They see the world with a box held to one eye, separating them from their subject.  For Montreal

.  86-year Old Arnaud Maggs in the running for Canada's largest photography award Three photographers from across Canada have made the shortlist for the 2012 Scotiabank Photography Award. The finalists, Toronto's Arnaud Maggs, Vancouver-based Fred Herzog and Alain Paiement of Montreal, were chosen from 12 names submitted by a panel of artists, experts, curators and critics. Maggs at the Scotiabank Photography Award - Andrew Weir The announcement, held at Scotiabank headquarters, was attended by the media and members of the arts community (pictured below).  In the auidence was 86-year old photographer Arnaud Maggs (pictured), who was named to the Prize's shortlist. After hearing his name announced the photographer came to the front of the executive boardroom and expressed his gratitude for being so honoured (pictured). . Internationally acclaimed photographer Arnaud Maggs is best known for detailed, grid-like portrait studies that betray a stark intimacy.

. Scotiabank sponsors $50,000 prize, publishing deal and a gallery exhibition for the year's best photographer. Bay Street's brand new award By Stephen Weir On Friday March 11th, the Scotiabank announced in Toronto the three Canadian photographers who are in the running for the nation’s newest and richest photography award. The Scotiabank Photography Award – SPA - new this year, will not only reward one photographer with a $50,000 purse (the two runners up get $5,000 each) but will also give out a publishing contract with one of the world’s top publishing houses – the Swiss based Steidl Books – to the winner. Vancouver’s Roy Arden , Montréal’s Lynn Cohen and Robin Collyer , (Toronto) were named to the SPA short-list at a lunchtime press event. The announcement was made in the art-filled posh 63rd floor office (think of it as an economic spa) headquarters of Scotiabank in downtown Toronto. “Believe me, we aren’t grumpy old bankers,” said Scotiabank vice-president John Doig.