submitted by the HG Arts Council--Local artists Robert Vogstad and Lynn Lee have won the competition to design a new logo for the Haida Gwaii Arts Council with an eye-catching submission that blends traditional Haida formline with contemporary flair. "We were excited to learn that we were the winning submission for the new Arts Council logo, particularly since it highlights the arts council's commitment to working together as a strong Islands community," said Ms Lee. "Lynn and I have collaborated on other graphic projects in the past and it is fun to share creative energy with such a fine artist as Lynn," said Mr. Vogstad. "As most successful endeavours happen fast and spontaneously, our collective concepts were ideal and on the spot!"Ms Lee spearheaded the design and concept for the initial submission using a Haida eye design from Mr. Vogstad, drawing on concepts and conversations she has had with Mr. Vogstad and others over the years. They then worked together to refine and balance the final design to provide both a black-and-white and colour version. Green represents the forest; blue, the sea; and rusty red, the land and people.The new logo replaces the council's previous logo of a moonlit seascape, designed over a decade ago. "Our old logo didn't really reflect the cultural diversity found in Haida Gwaii," said Arts Council president Astrid Egger. "It was designed prior to widespread use of electronic media, and prior to us having a website." The new logo better reflects the changing realities of Haida Gwaii as well as the evolution of the Arts Council itself, said Ms Egger. "The logo expresses ancient and modern elements of traditional Haida art and the human figure depicts the modernity of Haida Gwaii," said Mr. Vogstad. "I am a neo-tradional Haida artist and there is no limiting my expression." "What is unique about the Haida Gwaii Arts Council and Haida Gwaii itself is the interrelationship between Haida and other island communities, people and nature, a desire to co-exist to nurture the needs of both," said Ms Lee. "In our design, which we called 'Perceptions,' we express the role of the Haida Gwaii Arts Council in facilitating learning, sharing and creating together with a Haida eye reflecting a calligraphic figure. The Haida and Chinese calligraphic elements speak to the unique diversity that is Haida Gwaii: people, land and sea. The figure also closely represents the Chinese character for 'big', defining the large role of art in culture and sense of place."The Arts Council received several submissions, all of which were of good artistic quality, said Ms Egger, but some were more suitable for graphic design and reproduction than others. The Arts Council's selection committee included a graphic designer and several members with a visual-arts background.