Canada Wins Asiago Philatelic Fine Art Awards
Canada's Minister of Public Works & Government Services, the Honourable
Alfonso Gagliano (right)
receives the Asiago Award from Vicenza's Olympic Academy president Lorenzo
Pellizzari (ctr)
assisted by Asiago's Mayor, Francesco Gattolin (left).
By Giorgio Migliavacca
A set of eight stamps issued last year by Canada (see photo below) to celebrate traditional handiwork is the winner of the 30th Asiago Philatelic Fine Arts Award. The stamps were designed by Monique Dufour and Sophie Lafortune, with photography by Jean-Pierre Beaudin.
Each stamp features the hands of the craftsperson, as they develop their particular work of art. The hands evoke the gestures involved in the creative process (bookbinding, ironwork, leather-work, glass-blowing, oyster farming, weaving, quilting and woodworking).
The Asiago jury was very impressed by the design and composition of the Canadian set of stamps referring to it as a true work of art. Alfonso Gagliano, Canada's Minister of Public Works & Government Services (including Canada Post Corporation) was in Agiago to receive the prestigious Award. Of Italian descent, Minister Gagliano noted that hands are also evocative of the many skills immigrant workers bring to their new, adoptive country.
The Asiago Award for best stamp on environmental issues went to Brazil (see photo below) for its 1999 miniature sheet for a nationwide forest fires prevention campaign. The miniature sheet is printed on recycled paper that has been treated with a burnt wood fragrance. The four stamps that make up the miniature sheet are self- adhesive and feature an ant-eater, a tropical flower, a leaf and a tree trunk encircled by flames.
The stamp issued by Bosnia Herzegovina (see photo below) in honor of the Islamic School of Kursumli Medresa was deemed the best stamp promoting cultural heritage. In receiving the award Bosnia's consul general and former Sarajevo's mayor during the tragic bombing of that city, Muhamed Kreseljakovic highlighted the cultural importance of the institution. The jury stated that while showcasing an Islamic institution in the Balkans, the stamp - described as a little jewel of graphic arts - also underlines the importance of education.
Vicenza's Olympic Academy Award went to Great Britain for the Royal Mail's colorful Millennium series. Lorenzo Pellizzari, president of the Academy, noted that the British series is noteworthy for using postage stamps to capture the historic perspective of human endeavours and achievements.
The Asiago Award is under the high patronage of the Italian President, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi. Asiago is a popular tourist attraction of the Eastern Alps.