Emerging local painter takes top prize in Northwestel directory contest with magical winter Whitehorse scene
May 1, 2019
Whitehorse, YT — A talented local painter transformed an everyday scene into a striking piece of art to win in Northwestel’s Directory Cover Art competition. Chantel Goodman’s modestly-titled painting Walking out of the Library at Night was officially unveiled this evening as the cover image of Northwestel’s 2019/20 phone directory for Yukon and Northern British Columbia
Goodman grew up in rural Manitoba, went to school in Austria and taught English in Mexico, before relocating to the Yukon. Though not classically trained, Goodman says she’s been passionate about art for many years and fell in love with the North’s beautiful landscape.
“I’ve been painting since I moved to the Yukon. The first thing I felt like doing was painting and trying to capture everything that I was seeing. I took a painting class with (Yukon artist) Suzanne Paleczny, which really boosted my confidence to just get out there and paint.”
As for the winning artwork, Goodman says it’s her favourite painting.
“It’s a very bland scene; a parking lot that I always drive by and never pay attention to. Then one night I’m walking out of the library, in awe of all the little lights. It was beautiful and I thought ‘I have to capture this’. It’s like appreciating the beauty in the mundane surroundings that you might pass by every day. I’m really proud of this painting.”
Every year, Northwestel showcases the talents of northern artists on the covers of its regional phone directories. Cover artwork is selected in consultation with the local arts community and each winning artist is awarded $3,000. Northwestel’s President, Curtis Shaw, says the annual tradition has been around almost as long as the company has been serving the North.
“This year Northwestel is celebrating its 40th anniversary and for 34 of those years, Northwestel has proudly displayed northern art on its directory covers. I am fascinated by the amount of beautiful artwork submitted which is inspired by our local landscape. The area depicted in Chantel’s painting is simply downtown Whitehorse, yet she captures it in a delightfully magical way. Northwestel is pleased to support the development of northern artists through this annual tradition and we wish Chantel luck as she goes forward in her own art career.”
Goodman notes that while winning the contest was a surprise, she’s already planning to create and promote more of her artwork.
“Winning (the directory cover contest) made me open my eyes a bit more to explore my passion and develop my skills. I’m starting to make greeting cards for Christmas and holidays, and I’m planning an art show at Baked Café in June. I did put a lot of time and effort into the painting that I submitted, but it was still a huge surprise. I definitely jumped up and down.”
Swap your directory and support local schools
The new 2019/20 directories will be available at directory pick-up locations throughout the Yukon in the coming weeks and at this weekend’s Lake Laberge Lions Club Trade Show. From now until May 27, 2019, outdated phone directories can be recycled to support local students through Northwestel’s Directory Recycling Program.
Each year, northern students can collect outdated telephone directories for recycling to earn cash rewards from Northwestel to help fund school activities.
Contact:
Matt Wallace
Manager, External Communications
(867) 455-4209
media@nwtel.ca
