Robert Truszkowski 2020
  • Intro
  • Creative Research
    • Contextualization of my practice
    • Exhibitions
    • Recent Work
    • Older Work
    • Hangashima
  • Teaching
    • Statement and context of my teaching practice
    • Graduate supervision
    • Curricular and studio innovations
    • Printmaking studios
    • Sample syllabuses
    • Student evaluations
    • Peer teaching evaluation 2019
    • Sample signs and technical bulletins
    • Courses taught
    • Success profile: Articulate Ink
  • Service
    • Welcome to Print Media
    • Studio and technician supervision
    • Community
    • Committee work
    • Safety Leadership Award 2019
  • Bio
  • Contact
  • Other Visuals
    • Selected catalogues & videos >
      • New Canadian Painting
      • Okanagan Print Triennial 2009
      • Trois-Rivières 2009
      • PrintZero Exhibition 2010
      • Traditions and Transitions 2011
      • Prairie Post Modern 2012
      • Penance 2012
      • Degrees Magazine 2016
      • Conversationalist 2015-16
      • So Much Ice
      • Alberta Printmakers
      • Kyoto Hanga 2016
      • Gunpowder 2017
      • SNAPLINE2018
      • BIEC 2019
      • Making it in Saskatchewan 2019
      • Lt Gov Heritage Award 2019

RBC New Canadian Painting Competition


In 2003, while in graduate school in Montréal, I submitted my work "Pray Always. Organize. Upload" to the RBC New Canadian Painting Competition.  As the piece was part of a series of large silkscreens on canvas, with hand-applied varnish, white latex house paint, and vinyl lettering, I felt that it sufficiently straddled the ambiguous line that defines "painting".  To my delight, the jurors for this prestigious, nation-wide competition agreed, and my work was short-listed, and eventually made the roster of finalists for the Eastern Canadian division.  My piece was shown in Halifax, Winnipeg, London (Ontario), and Toronto, and I was invited to the grand reception at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.  Ultimately, my piece did not win (for "issues" pertaining to whether or not it was, in fact, a "painting", according to a representative of RBC who formed part of the final jury), but the experience was absolutely incredible.  I sold several pieces as a result of this exposure, and I made many, many contacts.  My work was featured in (and on the cover of) the catalogue that accompanied the show, on bus shelter and subway ads from Toronto to Montréal to St. John's, and later included in the hardcover book celebrating 10 years of the competition.  Aside from the sheer pleasure of being treated like a "real artist", while still in graduate school (and to be heralded as a top new painter in Canada despite my practice – and MFA studies – being Print Media based while no "painter" from Concordia made it to the Finalist stages), the greatest gift the RBC Canadian Painting experience gave me was one of confidence and tangible recognition. 


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