Seven students from NSCAD University have been awarded the Nova Scotia Talent Trust (NSTT). The Trust supports emerging artists and talents in Nova Scotia with scholarships and bursaries to further studies and research in their respective fields. The award totals in more than $154,000 for recipients.
Among the 85 recipients awarded, NSCAD students from the departments of Film, Photography, Drawing, and Printmaking, were among the lucky winners.
MEET THE RECIPIENTS
Sarah Eve Hutten – Painting, Printmaking
Fine Arts student, Sarah Eve Hutten was awarded the NSTT for her work in painting and printmaking.
Having lived on a small farm in rural Nova Scotia, Eve finds herself repeatedly drawn to the imagery she grew up around. Local landscapes, barns, trees and churches appear across her work, referencing the places most familiar to her. Imagined creatures and places emerge, separating the world in her works from our own.
“I am hugely grateful to have been selected to receive an award from the Nova Scotia Talent Trust,” she says. “Their support helps me continue my education at NSCAD University.”
Inspired by folk art, Eve seeks a narrative in each of her pieces. Each work she makes tells the story of a place or person. Through painting, she builds a world that reflects her own, bringing together personal narratives and imagined folklore.
Liz Shmuilov – Film Production
Film student, Liz Shmuilov was awarded the NSTT for her film production work.
“This award has been huge in helping me transition into the semester exchange program in California,” Liz says. “So far, this experience is teaching me more than I could have ever imagined about the film industry, collaboration, and leadership. I am ready to come back to Nova Scotia with more knowledge, skills, and inspirations.”
As an aspiring film writer and director, Liz’s work (so far) explores themes that stretch reality, often surrounding the human experience and psychological topics such as identity, dreams, and our perception of the world. She loves mixing narrative storytelling with unusual characters and reality-bending ideas, allowing traditional filmmaking methods to blur and stories to be more engaging and interpretive to each viewer.
Liana Rizatdinova – Painting, Drawing
Fine Arts student, Liana Rizatdinova was awarded the NSTT for her work in Painting and Drawing.
Liana prefers traditional mediums such as oil pastel, gouache, or charcoal, as working with her hands help her to build a connection with her emotions directly and have more control over what she creates on paper or canvas. Her art reflects her journey and the topics she cares about the most. Through colors and dynamic lines, Liana explores topics that she cannot avoid talking about, such as the reality of immigration, death and the realm of the dead, freedom of will, compassion and violence.
“The award will help me in building a foundation for my future career and shaping my art and myself into a professional artist within Canadian, and specifically, Maritimes art community,” she says. “As a Russian-Canadian immigrant, I believe it is a great chance for me to establish my future career in Canada.”
Liana is also keen to experiment with mediums, and occasionally works with printmaking or experimental video. She aspires to become a professional artist to have the resources and skills to create complete art pieces with a clear message that will accurately represent her thoughts and emotions. She believes her art will find its viewers and will evolve into something different in the future.
Oscar Jarsky – Printmaking
Fine Arts student, Oscar Jarsky received the NSTT for his work in Printmaking. Oscar became a student at NSCAD in 2020 during the height of the pandemic. Four years later, he continues to have a keen desire to expand his knowledge and explore further.
“NSTT’s support has allowed me to continue into a fifth culminating year, an opportunity to allow my practice to solidify itself, and for my diverging passions to culminate in an environment that is at once supportive and catalytic.”
Based in K’jipuktuk, Oscar is frequently seeking the thrills and community that printmaking provides. His work is based in close deliberate observation; giving time and space towards the knowing and memorialization of the land and those who share it.
Cate Harper – Painting, Drawing
Fine Art student Cate Harper was awarded the NSTT for her work in Painting and Drawing. Cate’s work contains elements from nature and people to create art that tells a story through emotions.
“This award will help support my goal as an artist by providing the stepping stools I need to reach this degree, and be welcomed into the world of art,” she says.
Cuba Fisk – Photography Street Art
Photography student, Cuba Fisk, is an interdisciplinary artist with a focus on urban landscapes and elements of graffiti. He was awarded the NSTT for his work in Street Art Photography.
“This award will help me with my craft by allowing me more financial flexibility with art supplies,” he says.
Devon Pennick-Reilly – Film Production
MFA Film student, Devon Pennick-Reilly was awarded the NSTT for her work in Film Production. She is also the recipient of the 2024 Nova Scotia Arts Endowment Fund Scholarship.
“I am incredibly grateful for the support of the Nova Scotia Talent Trust and excited to use the funding to invest in more advanced analog film equipment and materials as I work towards my final thesis show,” she says. “The opportunity to experiment further with these materials will be invaluable as I continue to push the boundaries of my work and refine my artistic voice.
Devon is a Halifax-based interdisciplinary artist and filmmaker who works with both analog and digital formats. Their practice is rooted in exploring personal narratives, community, and the natural world, often using experimental techniques like at-home film development with plants. Devon’s work aims to offer new perspectives on identity, perception, and the human experience, while fostering inclusivity and accessibility in the arts.
Her 2019 thesis film ‘Surface Tension’ received recognition at the Festival du Nouveau Cinéma, an experience that encouraged Devon to continue sharing stories that invite reflection and empathy. In 2023, She was honored with the NSTT RBC Emerging Artist Award and the Joan Catherine DeWolfe Graduate Fellowship, which have helped her pursue her creative and community-driven projects.