Aliant New Media Prize Awarded to Stephen Kelly

Stephen Kelly, a Halifax musician and artist, has been named the winner of the 2006 Aliant New Media Prize.

Mr. Kelly, received the award to create WaveUp, a kinetic sound sculpture that will translocate a remote ocean environment, in real-time, to an urban gallery space.

The $10,000 prize was presented at the Creative Nova Scotia Awards Gala in Pictou on Thursday, Oct. 19, by Don MacKay, regional manager, Aliant.

"Aliant is pleased to sponsor this prize and to be associated with such an innovative and creative project," said Mr. MacKay. "WaveUp is a fascinating use of technology and a physical demonstration of how the internet has shrunk our world and removed distance as a barrier. On behalf of our employees and retirees, I would like to congratulate Mr. Kelly on his success."

Mr. Kelly's WaveUp project will use speakers connected via the internet to Fisheries and Oceans Canada ocean wave data buoys to translate data into motion and sound.

"I'm very honored to receive the Aliant New Media Prize," Stephen Kelly said. "It's encouraging to be recognized within the Nova Scotia arts community and this generous funding will make it possible for me to realize my ideas."

The Aliant New Media Prize, administered by the Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, recognizes art projects that focus on media interactivity directly using computing and communications technologies.

In addition to the Aliant New Media Prize, the lieutenant-governor of Nova Scotia's Masterwork Award, Portia White Prize and Prix Grand-Pre were also presented at the awards gala.