Meryl McMaster - Gold Medal Winner in Photography

OCAD GOLD

Vistek and the Ontario College of Art and Design share a unique bond, inspired by a common love affair with the art of imaging.

Meryl McMaster – Gold Medal Winner in Photography
Winner of the $1500 scholarship from Vistek

May 6, 2010 -- It was a photo finish in the truest sense. The award-winning selection of photos so daring, unconventional and spectacular that the task of picking one winner from the class of 2010 must have been difficult and heart wrenching for the judges.

But a winner was chosen, and one deservingly so. Congratulations to Meryl McMaster. graduating student in the field of Photography.

Like so many photographers, Meryl is as articulate explaining her visions as she is imaginative capturing them. Her work explores questions of identity, representation, perception, myth, memory and the environment. And without question, Meryl s images capture her vision in brilliant detail. Her photos pull you in and conjure a story.

The future of photography certainly looks bright. If Meryl and her classmates work is any indication, photography is an art form that will continue to capture our imaginations. With the quality of outstanding work coming out of the school, and as an obvious breeding ground for the next generation of pro photographers, Vistek is proud of our association with OCAD. Through our recently launched Mentor Program at OCAD, we hope to foster stronger ties and continue to grow the relationship.

Meryl McMaster's Portfolio

Ancestral

"Ancestral" explores the idea of heritage through a combination of portraits and self-portraits. Using late 19th century historical images of various Aboriginal men and women, the images were digitally projected onto the subject. The idea is to take historical bodies by inserting them into the present, bringing together old and new, as a way of looking at the past through the present.

See Ancestral Portfolio

Second Self

"Second Self" reconsiders identity through portraiture by incorporating drawing and sculpture. Representing the complexities of identity, the drawings and sculptures act like masks or personas to conceal and change the subject’s identity. Persona has come to define the individual for the public while concealing the real person. The mask, then, is like the second self.

See Second Self Portfolio

In-Between Worlds

"In-Between Worlds" explores the mixing and transforming of bi-cultural identities - Aboriginal and Euro-Canadian. This series addresses the idea of liminality, of being betwixt and between cultural identities and histories. In-Between Worlds is a sequence of moments that appear out of the ordinary and can be interpreted as being in a state of suspended belief. Talisman and prop-like sculptures become extensions of the body that suggests a collaging of identities. In-Between Worlds is a dialogue in which the viewer questions themselves and the world in new ways.

See In-Between Worlds Portfolio