Arts Council and Picton Kiwanis honour two aspiring artists

Svenya Scherer. Photo by Theresa Durning. www.in-the-bag.ca

Brianna Gorsline. Photo by Theresa Durning. www.in-the-bag.ca

At the opening reception of Art in the County Thursday, the Prince Edward County Arts Council and Picton Kiwanis Club honoured two young women who will be pursuing secondary education in the arts in September.

Brianna Gorsline, a resident of Cherry Valley graduating from St. Theresa’s Catholic Secondary School, received the Prince Edward County Arts Council award for visual and performing arts/arts administration. She was introduced by Wayne McNulty, manager of the Student Awards program for the PEC Arts Council. Brianna will be enrolling in the Performing Arts Presentation Program at Sheridan College and hopes to pursue a career as a professional actress.

Brianna describes her passion for performing as giving her pure joy: “The times…when I am the happiest are when I am on the stage “. She has been a member of the Marysburgh Mummers for 11 years during which she has played several leading roles. She has taken classical voice training for three years and has completed Grade Six in the Royal Conservatory of Music exam. At school, she has performed in the Rotary Music Festival,  the school choir, and theatrical productions. Brianna also directed The Face is the Place, the school production  for the Sears Drama Festival. Academically, she has achieved excellent results and is described by her teachers as an excellent mentor, vocal coach and role model for other students

Svenya Scherer, graduating from Prince Edward Collegiate Institute, received the Picton Kiwanis Club visual arts award for 2010, administered by the Prince Edward County Arts Council. Svenya was introduced by John Langschmidt , President of the Picton Kiwanis Club. She is a resident of the Picton area, graduating from Prince Edward Collegiate Institute in June 2010. She will be enrolling in a program in Cultural Studies at Trent University and is considering a career as a museum or gallery curator.

Svenya has gained experience in a range of arts subjects at school and has been involved in graphic design of the school yearbook and in fashion design. Over the past three years she has assisted in designing costumes for PECI productions. Svenya has worked at the Red Barns artist studio and developed skills in glass blowing, flame working, blacksmithing, pottery and stained glass, creating and designing  various artworks including a stained glass window. During the past five years, she has participated in the Picton Library teen art show, submitting a variety of pieces and receiving honourable mentions. In 2009 Svenya won a first place award for her stained glass window.  Svenya is described by her teachers as having excellent artistic skills and vision.

The PEC Arts Council student award was founded four years ago when the Council decided to set up a fund to support and encourage students continuing into post-secondary education in the arts. The award was increased last year to reflect increases in donations to the award fund.
“We very much appreciate contributions made to this fund by Arts Council members,” McNulty said. “We are honoured that the Picton Kiwanis Club has chosen to work with the Council by offering its own annual award for visual arts, administered by the PEC Arts Council, to support emerging visual artists in the community and their education. “