Drumroll Please! Ellen Fraser is recognized as the winner of the 2025 MERA Award of Excellence in Fine Art and Fine Craft.

Jeweler and painter Ellen Fraser has been selected as the winner of the MERA Award of Excellence in Fine Arts and Fine Crafts, with artist and fashion designer Cheryl Straby receiving an honorable mention.

Jurors Sunny Kerr, Curator of Contemporary Art at the Agnes Etherington Art Gallery at Queens University in Kingston, Suzette MacSkimming, painter and printmaker and Richard Skrobecki, Owner and Manager of General Fine Craft in Almonte deliberated over Zoom and have made their decision.

Local jeweler and painter Ellen Fraser brings years of extensive and varied experience being a career artist, teacher and entrepreneur – alongside the progression of her personal creativity. Her current series of paintings is influenced by a life of making art. “Seeing Ellen’s paintings for the first time, I was struck by their intense colours, patterns and the strong impressions they elicit. She is able to suggest the sublime intensity of a landscape experience without visually copying it.”.

The jury noted they appreciated Ellen’s playful approach to art making. After decades of making jewellery, she has found time to paint. Ellen experiments with textures in her paintings, using techniques similar to ones she uses in making jewellery “I (the jury) enjoyed Ellen’s textured painting works immensely. Full of exuberant motion, their magic results from Ellen’s adventurous use of cloth and other materials, colour and composition. Their surfaces inspire a joyful play between representation of landscape and abstracted shape. Ellen has clearly achieved a successful fusion of painting and the craft of jewellery-making.”

Jurors have recognized Cheryl Straby with an honorable mention for her exceptionally high levels of craft and originality in her garments. “Most of them (her garments) make ecstatic statements, and all of them are audacious in their use of texture and colour. We all admired the high levels of skill and determination evident in her practice.”. Cheryl is the owner of Streve Design in Perth. The jury also noted how they appreciated Cheryl’s sense of environmental responsibility in her salvage process “Her ideas about “sustainable” fashion as opposed to “fast” fashion are commendable. To wear one of her pieces such as “Red Flames Coat” or “Barcelona Coat” would like wrapping oneself in an inspiring dream!”

The MERA (McDonalds Corners/Elphin Recreation & Arts) Award, consisting of a $1000 prize, will be presented to Ellen Fraser at a reception on Friday, June 13th 4:30-6pm 2025 at the Schoolhouse (974 Concession Road 9A Dalhousie, McDonalds Corners).

The MERA Award, which is given every two years, was conceived and made possible by a generous donation by Lanark Highlands residents Chris and David Dodge to the Perth and District Community Foundation, which manages the funds. Recognizing MERA’s important contribution to the arts community, the Dodges chose MERA to select the Award winners. Anyone interested in learning more about the MERA Award is invited to send an email to meraschoolhouse@gmail.com, or visit MERA’s website: www.meraschoolhouse.org. The next award will be given in 2027.