CAS Inc. Annual Exhibition 2025
Gallery 314, 314 Church St, Richmond
14-28 September
Review by Penny Wolf
A beautiful sunny day heralded the opening of CAS’s 87th exhibition which welcomed nearly 100 visitors. Gallery 314 filled quickly, as artists, collectors and curious visitors wove through the display. The sheer variety of 108 works from 56 artists made for an immediate visual impact. Visitors eagerly studied the catalogue to view artists’ comments which provided insight behind each artwork, as well as their artistic process.
A packed gallery, at the opening on Sunday 14 September
The exhibition impressed with its variety - from abstract to figurative, spanning painting, printmaking, sculpture, mixed media, photography and digital art. The 106 Works on Paper folio and 191 Artist Made Cards provided a further selection of works by the artists.
Conversations flowed easily. Artists spoke with warmth about their work, and the atmosphere was one of genuine community spirit. The opening felt like a connection of creators and supporters, humming with the sense that contemporary art in Melbourne is as diverse and vital as ever.
Two winners: George Eustice on left (Highly Commended), and Sid Cross on right (4th Prize)
Gallery 314’s generous proportions, high ceilings and clean white walls proudly displayed the larger works. The smaller works were mounted on stand-alone metal frames in the central part of the gallery. Some of these smaller works were less easily viewed.
President Robert Lee welcomed us all before introducing guest judge Robert Bridgewater. Robert’s sculptural timber or bronze work stands out for its precision and quiet intensity. We were very fortunate to have him as guest judge.
CAS Predident Robert Lee addressing guests at the opening
Congratulations to our prize winners who are:
1st Prize $2,582
Winner: #49 Richard Impey, River Cruise, Salzburg, digital drawing, 45 x 63 cm
Judge’s note: “The boredom of the people, especially the young girl, has been very well captured. Subtlety of the technique is quite beautiful.”
2nd Prize $1,715
Winner: #96 Keith Ross, Lawful interactions with trams, oil pastel on pink card, 102 x 77 cm
Judge’s note: “It is so joyful and it shows the world as we would want it to be.”
3rd Prize $1,059
Winner: #76 Santosh Mahale, Richmond and Cremorne, oil on canvas, 75 x 75 cm
Judge’s note: “I’m fascinated by the idea of depicting a suburb from the map view, and there are various levels of detail of the suburb.”
4th Prize $747
Winner: #107 Sid Cross, When My Boat Comes In, mixed media, 58 x 58 cm
Judge’s note: “The subtlety of the colours and the patterns, and the materials are quite evocative somehow, of a sense of place.”
5th Prize $250
Winner: #73 Robert Lee, Re-Balance II, mixed media, 100 x 100 x 100 cm
Judge’s note: “The sensitivity to the materials is beautiful.”
Detail of #73 Robert Lee's Re-Balance II hanging above two guests
Special Prize for Innovative Use of Materials $1,479
Winner: #92 Cielo Quintero Restrepo, Radiant Survival, eco-printed in recycled wool, 75 x 80 cm
Judge’s note: “I’m fascinated with the use of materials, such as using a recycled blanket, and the technique of eco printing leaves, which takes pigment from the leaves.”
Judge’s Encouragement Award $313
Winner: #94 Filomena Roberts, Thinking of You, acrylic & ink on canvas, 121 x 51 cm
Judge’s note: “I find the paint surface very attractive, and I’m interested in the style of abstraction.”
Highly Commended
Winner: #25 George Eustice, The Udi at Nareet, oil on canvas, 41 x 51 cm
Judge’s note: “I’m drawn to it as it reminds me of the work of another artist, Philip Gaston.”
Highly Commended
Winner: #53 Ramnath Iyer, Still Life, oil, 53 x 64 cm
Judge’s note: “I’m very impressed by the technique.”
Robert Bridgewater’s general comment on the show:
“It’s great to have an outlet for people to exhibit their works, and the enthusiasm and joy in the making of the works is refreshing.”
We gratefully acknowledge our sponsors who generously provided prizes:
Art Almanac
Art Boards Australia
Art Stretchers
Arthouse Direct
Atelier Art Supplies
Chapman & Bailey Art Shop
Chroma Australia
Deans Art
Derivan
Grill'd Swan St Richmond
Kosnar’s Picture Framing
Omnus Framing
Print 2 Metal
Richmond Union Bowling Club
Rossdale Art & Craft Supplies
Royal Oak Hotel
Senior Art Supplies
The Art Shop Bayswater
Zart Art Box Hill
Listening to other visitors’ comments on the art, the introduction of a viewer’s prize or feedback system could add an engaging dimension to the exhibition, inviting audiences to respond directly to the works and fostering a stronger sense of dialogue between artists and the public.
For me, the following works stood out.
#36 Anna Generalova, Australian Banksia, mixed media, 58 x 62 cm
Anna’s banksia painting bursts from the wall with its bold colours, transforming the natural form into something both strikingly modern and richly expressive.
#18 Eva Dell Neel, Bowl of Oranges, watercolour, 40 x 55 cm
Eva’s watercolour of a bowl of oranges glows with brilliant colour, its luminous washes capturing both freshness and vibrancy.
#60 Jon Lam, The Tao and the Chi, watercolour, 76 x 96 cm
Jon’s watercolour of a misty lake with a tai chi group creates such a calming scene, evoking the life force and natural rhythm of the world.
#57 Denise Keele-bedford, Wall stories I, mixed media on paper, 80 x 60 cm
Denise’s mixed media work on paper evokes fragments of weathered wall surfaces, layered with stories and traces of time; its beautiful earthy tones invite the viewer to pause, reflect, and form their own interpretations of what lies beneath.
The Society and artists put so much work into the exhibition. Publicity included targeted social media campaigns and paid ads on Facebook and Instagram, advertising in Art Almanac, invitations to Local Councillors, and three big colourful estate agent féte boards which brought in many people just passing by.
The exhibition offered a vibrant and engaging collection of contemporary practice, bringing together a rich variety of styles and media. Presented in the surrounds of Gallery 314, it celebrates both individual creativity and the collective spirit of the Contemporary Art Society, leaving visitors with a strong impression of diversity, vitality, and community in Victoria’s art scene.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
The Contemporary Art Society of Victoria Inc. would like to acknowledge the work done by its Members and Friends in the many tasks involved in holding the Annual Exhibition 2025. Their assistance in artwork installation and opening made this an affordable opportunity for artist members to participate in.
Exhibition Curator & Coordinator: Robert Lee
Catalogue: Robert Lee (editor & print management)
Data Entry: Fred Fair & Cressida Fox
Exhibition Committee: Fred Fair, Karen Foley, Analiese Fort, Cressida Fox, Susan Gustafson, Robert Lee