Renowned local artist Keith Campbell is one of six finalists for one of the most prestigious awards in his field: the Premier's Award for Excellence in the Arts. The ceremony is being held at Roy Thomson Hall on Sept. 16. PHOTO COURTESY OF KEITH CAMPBELL
Once in a while, an individual with remarkable, unique talent makes the most of their gift and finds a way to make their life revolve around it.
Keith Campbell is one of those people.
Now, the ceramic artist and potter is up for one of the most prestigious awards in the province: the Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts for 2014. Of the roughly 57,000 professional artists in the province, Campbell has been picked as one of six finalists for the honour.
“Of all of the fantastic people in Ontario and the number of nominations that were put forward, you realize that you’re one of the last six; that’s phenomenal,” said Campbell. “I’m really, really lucky to have been nominated.”
The awards recognize outstanding artists and arts organizations in Ontario and their exceptional achievement in their respective fields.
In his 45 years of artistic creation, his works have been exhibited throughout the country and internationally in over 280 exhibitions, including the Royal Ontario Museum, Canadian Museum of Civilization and the Archives of Ontario, to name just a few.
Early on he committed entirely to the idea of himself as a certain kind of artist and hasn’t looked back since, he says.
His work, which focuses primarily on Canadian history myths and legends, has created its fair share of controversy from time to time, something he says is a sign that he’s doing something right.
“I think it’s important that artists make political statements and I feel that artists haven’t been doing that,” said Campbell. “You’ve got to laugh, you’ve got to enjoy life. Usually most people get a lot of big laughs out of my work.
“I don’t want to be doing something creative that I’m not enjoying,” he continued. “It’s good to make controversial things.”
Campbell has been praised for his sculptural works as well as both his functional and non-functional pieces. With effort comes reward and with reward comes reason to work harder and continue having fun, he says.
“Artists need something up there to reach for,” he explained. “Artists probably work way harder than anyone else… so it’s way more fulfilling because you feel that you’ve accomplished something.”
Among his 55 other awards are Canada’s 125th Anniversary Commemorative Anniversary Medal, the John Mather Medal from the Ontario Craft Council and, most recently, the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Coordinating Body of Arts Culture Heritage in North Bay.
Despite his trophy case though, Campbell says the Premier’s Award would rank among the finest.
This year’s nomination is the second time Campbell has been up for the award after being chosen to be in the top six in 2010, when he became the first artist from Northern Ontario to be a finalist.
Although he didn’t win, he says that the Northern Ontario art scene has gained a lot more recognition since then and continues to earn accolades like never before. Even competing against Campbell for the award this year, for example, is Espanola-based artist Christi Belcourt, while the Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario in Subdury is up for the Arts Organization award.
“They’re looking outside of the Toronto area; the North is finally getting some recognition,” Campbell said ecstatically. “Northern Ontario has a phenomenal group of arts and culture people that are just fantastic. Even if it was somebody else from Northern Ontario getting this nomination, I would be extremely happy.
“The North Bay art, craft and cultural community is fantastic,” he continued. “The people are great and there are a lot of great people here, so that also inspires me and spurs me on.”
While Campbell already receives $2,000 for being one of the finalists, he could be given an extra $35,000 if his name is called at the award ceremony in September.
But, as he says, the money doesn’t matter now, nor has it ever.
“It’s not about making money, it’s about getting out and showing your work,” Campbell explained. “I’ve been phenomenally lucky and blessed.”
According to the Ontario Government, the arts and culture sector generates more than $22 billion annually for the province and supports more than 300,000 jobs. But while that sounds good on paper, Campbell says that’s all the more reason that the province should be more generous to the arts.
“I think that the government should be putting more money into the arts and culture,” Campbell said. “At the awards, I’ll be saying they should be giving more money to Arts Council.
“I’ve been in an area that is my passion and I’ve been very lucky, so I should be helping others. That’s what I try to do.”
The Premier’s Awards are set to be held at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto on Sept. 16.
