CONTACT is pleased to announce MĂ©tabetchouan-based artist Simon Emond as the 2024 Burtynsky Grant winner for the book project Say My Name (Dis Mon Nom).
Jury statement: “A self-taught photographer from MĂ©tabetchouan, QC, Simon Emond explores the possibilities of post-production software to transform digital images beyond the subjects and situations captured by their lens. By playfully embodying a frequent misspelling of his last name—Demon—along with classic horror tropes, Edmond’s Say My Name mutates and manipulates joyful moments produced for wedding clients into alluring objects of mystery and unease.
Presented in the format of a traditional wedding album, this thoughtfully designed and conceived project compels and repels all at once—or as Emond’s colophon states, ‘Thank you to my clients, and sorry.’ Developed under the guidance of Witty Books publisher Tommaso Parrillo, designer Giulia Boccarossa and curator Rocco Venezia at the 2023 PhMuseum Masterclass, the jury is excited that this grant will enable Emond to self-publish this experimental project.”
The jury—Benjamin Freedman, Rachel Wine, and Emma Wright—had the pleasure and honour of reviewing a wide range of compelling, competitive photobook proposals and would like to acknowledge the following Honourable Mentions:
Josh Aronson – Florida Boys
Pengkuei Ben Huang – The Memory Shore
Ruth Kaplan – Crossing
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Photographer Edward Burtynsky and CONTACT established the Burtynsky Grant in 2016–a $5,000 annual grant to support a Canadian artist in the creation of a photobook. The grant supports photo-based artists who are at the advanced stages of developing a cohesive, rigorous body of work presented in book form.
Since its inception, The Burtynsky Grant has supported a range of exceptional photobooks, many created by Canadian and international independent publishers.
2023
Morris Lum, Tong Yan Gaai (2012-2022)
Honourable Mentions:
Cindy Blazevic, The Stink of Motherhood
Sandra Brewster, Blur
Chris M Forsyth, Montana Road Wreck. Published 2024 by Push Pull Editions.
2022
Fatine-Violette Sabiri, Kiss Landing. Published 2024 by Éditions VU.
Honourable Mentions:
Oumayma Ben Tanfous, Intertwined
Bertrand Carrière, Une poignée d’étoiles (A Handful of Stars). Published 2023 by Éditons Loco Paris.
Tommy Keith, Don’t Forget to Wave. Self-published in 2023.
Julie Pasila, As Above
2021
Cristian Ordóñez, Frequency. Self-published in 2023.
Honourable Mentions
Sara Knelman, Lady Readers. Published 2024 by Ottoby Press.
Jon Laytner, Normal and Boring
Rehab Nazzal, Driving in Palestine. Published 2023 by Fernwood Press.
Kyler Zeleny, Bury Me in the Back Forty. Published 2024 by The Velvet Cell.
2020
Pamila Matharu, Index: Some of All Parts. Forthcoming.
Honourable Mentions
Leyla Godfrey, Four Walls With No Entrance
Esmond Lee, Below the City
Laurence Philomene, Puberty. Published 2022 by Yoffy Press.
2019
Teresa Eng, China Dream. Published 2019 by Skinnerboox.
Honourable Mentions
Valerian Mazataud, Liwa Mairin. Self-published in 2021.
Luis Mora, Say it with Flowers. Self-published in 2019.
Heather Rattray, 98 Ways to Say Very Good
2018
Birthe Piontek, Abendlied. Published 2019 by Gnomic Book.
Honourable Mentions
Eve Tagny, Lost Love
Ian Willms, We Shall See
2017
The Broadbent Sisters, A Telepathic Book. Self-published in 2018.
2016
Aaron Friend Lettner, Doorways. Published 2017 by Anchorless Press.
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Submissions for the 2025 Burtynsky Grant will open mid-year and will be open until mid-September 2025. Submission details below.
Please provide the following in one (1) PDF via filesharing service such as WeTransfer or Dropbox to [email protected]:
– Minimum 10 spreads (two pages side-by-side, like an open book) of your book dummy that best communicate your project and vision for publication. Full book submissions are also welcome.
– Project statement about your photobook
– Rough outline of how you would use the grant funding (ie. budget details regarding printing, distribution, design, etc)
– CV and/or artist statement
– Expressions of interest from publishers, if available (this is not mandatory, as you may be self-publishing)
Email [email protected] with your questions.