Interesting choices by the RBC Canadian Painting Competition

Howdy!

With a little aplomb, the RBC named the jury for the ninth Canadian Painting Competition. In short:

Paul Butler, Artist and Gallerist, Winnipeg.
Peter Dykhuis, Artist and Director of the Anna Leonowens Gallery at NSCAD University, Halifax.
John Hartman, Artist, Penetanguishene, Ontario.
Ron Moppett, Artist, Calgary.
Michèle Thériault, Director, Leonard & Bina Ellen Art Gallery, Concordia University.
Pierre-François Ouellette, Director and owner, Pierre-François Ouellette art contemporain.
Ben Portis, Assistant Curator, Contemporary Art, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto.
Mary Sue Rankin, Director, Edward Day Gallery, Toronto.
Reid Shier, Director/Curator, Presentation House, Vancouver.

Some comments of the top of my head.
a) Dil Hildebrand, last year's winner is represented by Pierre-François Ouellette, who also hosted a collage party by Paul Butler last year.
b) As it is a painting competition, I'm very surprised at at the quantity of people who do not regularly deal with painting who are on the jury. By my count, six of the nine show or do contemporary art that does not use such a traditional medium as paint.
c) As there are two jury members from Montreal, I'm also surprised that the closest the exhibition is coming is Moncton, NB.
d) I don't know if it is a choice, but I find it interesting that the RBC chooses to do their exhibits in new venues every year. Why do they not return to MOCCA, or MACM or any of the other museums that they have previously exhibited in?
e) Buried at the bottom is this line; "Along with past winners, the winning paintings of 2007 will become part of RBC's Canadian art collection..." And judging by the rules you win the prize and you have to give them the painting for free. This is not good.
f) Rule change notice: it is no longer age driven. You only must have had your first exhibit within the past five years. This is a very good thing.
g) More on the rules, I would love to know how they define "reputable media."

It will be interesting to see if the RBC painting competition makes it to their tenth anniversary. If you wnat to enter this year, click here, before May 4th.