The Town of Okotoks has announced the winners of the 2024 Nooks & Crannies Festival.
This sixth iteration of the public art festival featured 17 installations throughout downtown Okotoks, and as always, each of them was made completely out of recycled materials.
After deliberation from a panel of judges, comprised of Okotoks Mayor Tanya Thorn, the Okotoks Chamber of Commerce's Executive Director Dawn LeMaistre, Culture & Heritage Services Team Lead Allan Boss, and Okotoks Online reporter Stephen Strand, three winners and three honourable mentions were chosen.
First place honours were given to Juliana Freund's Hero of Recycling, which is location 9 on the map, right by On Tap Oil & Vinegar.
The Rambling Recyclers (location 11 at Stockton Gardens) from Jennifer Stables was second, with Lisa Schwartz's Fabric Lion Mosaic (location 6 at A Very Delightful Boutique) in third place.
First, second, and third place received $1,500, $1,250, and $1,000 respectively, though all artists involved in the festival received an artist's fee.
Boss was quoted in a release from the Town:
"It was great to hear the judges’ thoughts on each piece. Their diverse interests and backgrounds sparked some great conversations about the installations."
Three honourable mentions were also named, those being Dena Kubota's Advice from a Caterpillar (location 14) Gordon Mackey's Cardboard Bear (location 3) and Camille Betts' Hanging Fish (location 1).
The Nooks & Crannies installations will remain on display on August 24.
