Mount Allison Fine Arts research professor and visual artist Thaddeus Holownia has been named to the 2024 Scotiabank Photography Award shortlist. 

“I credit much of my qualifications for this award to my time at Mount Allison,” says Holownia. “I got to this point because I was fortunate enough to work in a community that was very supportive of my work and allowed me to pursue that as part of my teaching career.” 

Holownia retired in 2018 after a 41-year career at Mount Allison University, where he was professor of art and head of the Pierre Lassonde School of Fine Arts department. He received the Paul Paré Medal of Excellence in 1998 and 2006 for his teaching, scholarship, service, and creative achievement. 

Three Canadian artists have been named to the shortlist, including Nicolas Baier and Clara Gutsche, both of Montreal, QC. 

The Scotiabank Photography Award is Canada’s largest and most prestigious annual peer-nominated and reviewed prize for lens-based art. The award celebrates creative vision and accomplishments of the country’s most gifted contemporary lens-based artists. 

“It is a tremendous honour to be nominated by Meeka Walsh,” says Holownia. “That in itself is an incredible accreditation of having worked hard on my own voice out of Sackville and she has embraced that in her nomination statement.” 

Meeka Walsh has been the editor of Border Crossings magazine since 1993, which explores contemporary Canadian and international art and culture. Walsh also contributes essays and articles on various artists and held positions such as Trustee of the National Gallery of Canada and inaugural member of the Canadian Artists and Producers Professional Relations Tribunal in Ottawa. 

The Scotiabank Photography Award winner will be announced in Spring 2024 and will receive a $50,000 cash prize, a solo exhibition during the 2025 CONTACT Photography Festival, and a published book of their work distrusted worldwide by renowned art book publisher, Steidle. Each of the three shortlisted artists will receive a cash prize of $10,000. 

Holownia’s exhibition ‘Of a Feather: An Homage to Gay Hansen’ with assistant professor of photography Karen Stentaford is currently on display at the Owens Art Gallery until May 15.  

Holownia is also launching a new photography and poetry book with poet and award-winning journalist Harry Thurston. The book launch and poetry reading, featuring Holownia and Thurston, are scheduled for Friday, May 10 at 4 p.m. at the Owens Art Gallery. This event aims to support the Gay Hansen Scholarship.