Prize-winners - Annual Exhibition 2011
Glen Eira City Council Gallery: 30 June – 10 July 2011
Opening Night, 29 June - Judge: Yvonne Audette
Reviewed by Brigitta Wolfram
Acknowledgements and gratitude go to our generous sponsors for their contributions, financial assistance and prizes, to the Glen Eira City Council Gallery, and to Yvonne Audette, our judge this year. We need to recognise the hard work, dedication and selflessness of our president, Robert Lee and all on the committee working on all levels, from promotion, administration and logistics, to catering and photography. A special thanks to all the silent volunteers who help to make this event the great success it has increasingly become. It is a privilege to be part of this friendly and progressive society.
The opening of the Annual Exhibition 2011
The Glen Eira City Council Gallery, Caulfield
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The annual exhibition is a pivotal point in the year for the society. For many of us working independently it provides a forum not only to show work, but also to meet with other artists. This year the gallery staff did the hanging, so when I attended the opening night I was unprepared and stunned upon entering this fabulous space. Featuring works of immense terrain, diverse in style and spirit, no meagre fare; I knew I was in for a treat.
The judge had deliberated for two hours before making her selection. Yvonne said, “The standard was good, presenting difficulties to make choices for prizes and special prizes”. With Robert’s easy sociability, both entertaining and accessible, it was a wonderful evening. There was enthusiastic and well deserved response for each and every prizewinner, as they accepted their awards
First Prize – Total: $1,600
Micador Australia: Winner’s choice of Micador Australia products, including Roymac brushes, paints, papers, canvases and a large range of art materials, $800.
Chroma Australia: Winner’s choice of Archival oils, Atelier Interactive Artist’s Acrylics and Jo Sonja’s Matte Fluid Acrylics, $200.
Art Almanac: One year’s subscription, $40.
CAS Inc: Cash Prize, $500.
CAS Inc: One year’s CAS membership, $60.
First Prize was awarded to Erica Wagner for her Mixed Media work Telling You the Story of My Life.The judge said, “I feel this was a deserving prize. Well constructed, well painted and thought provoking”.
Second Prize – Total: $920
Winsor and Newton: A selection of Winsor and Newton art materials, including paints, painting mediums and artist’s books. $600
Colour Factory: Voucher for fine art photographic and digital printing services. $220
Art Almanac: One year’s subscription. $40
CAS Inc: One year’s membership. $60
Second Prize was awarded to Kathe Bibi Ostermark for her Black Hills of Dakota 1 acrylic and ink. The judge commented that she found it hard to choose the better of the two (second and third prize winners).
Third Prize - Total: $600
Faber-Castell: Pitt Artist Pens (case of 48) and Big Brush and Pens sets, tin of 60 Pitt Pastel Pencils, Faber-Castell Visual Diary Sketch Pad and Art materials. $560
Art Almanac: One year’s subscription. $40
CAS Inc: One year’s membership. $60
Third Prize was awarded to Joy Elizabeth Lea for her Crossed Wires mixed media.
Fourth Prize – Total: $500
Barnes Products: Voucher for sculpting, moulding and casting supplies. $200
Chroma Australia: Winner’s choice of Archival Oils, Atelier Interactive Artist’s Acrylics and Jo Sonja’s Matte Fluid Acrylics. $200
Art Almanac: One year’s subscription. $40
CAS Inc: One year’s membership. $60
Fourth Prize was awarded to Ottavio Otto Boron for his Sunny South Gippsland acrylic and oil. The judge felt this painting deserving of its place.
Special Prize for Most Innovative Use of Materials – Total: $700
Art Stretchers: Gift Certificate for a superb range of Art Spectrum Colours and art materials, including oils, water-colours and gouache. $600
Art Almanac: One year’s subscription. $40
CAS Inc: One year’s membership. $60
Special Prize for most innovative use of materials was awarded to Rosemary Mangiamele for Tsunami, acrylic and ink.
There were nine Highly Commended Awards.
The judge said, “Were again difficult to grade – I give my congratulations to all participants”.
Streamlet of Miracles (Venice), oil pastel on paper - John Gambardella
Autumn Landscape, acrylic on paper - Eva Miller
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The Nativity Today, oil on canvas - Angela Morrissey
‘Ice’. Oil - Rose Richards
‘Colours of Italy’. Acrylic - Jenny Scholes
L'Homme Qui Marche, wood - Claudine Top
IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE
Fay, One Autumn Day, acrylic and ink on canvas - Erica Wagner
Your Cries of Entreaty Shall Not Be Heard, mixed media - Brigitta Wolfram
Caress of Dawn, mixed media - Brigitta Wolfram
This significant exhibition brought together both the artist’s individual imaginative life and experiences shared by all of us any where on the globe. Yet, we are shown here, that there is no reason why the domain of art should tolerate any restrictions. Innovation in approach and practice were in abundance.
The unlimited patience and attention to detail shown in Graham Edwards’ acrylic ‘Sublime Intervention’ contrasting with the bold brushwork of Ria Tims’ oil ‘Synergy in Red’ or Neda Starac’s oil, Exotic Flowers.
Even with a show this size there were a few coherent motifs. Working through grief and loss; whether personal in the mixed media work of Dawn Cole in Friedl and Jean, and Helen Clancy’s glazed ceramic sculpture A Gay Flicker of Joyful Life, or collective; in the works of Rosemary Mangiamele and Robert Lee’s response to the Tsunami. Critical analysis of social degradation; Kate Murdoch’s oil, The Ideal Disconnect, and Mandy Hopkins' acrylic Unconditional Trust. Environmental degradation; Denise Dempsey’s mono-print The Future; Land and Sea Deserts, or Elizabeth Watt’s acrylic Reclamation and Janet Cameron’s limestone sculpture Bejewelled.
To delight us, the infectious irony of Jill Anderson’s earthenware and plastic map Foreign Affairs, Not My Thing’ and Cressida Fox’s Shocked Aliens.
I would like to make a special mention of George Eustice’s small oil, Still Life with Blue Jug. The texture of the paint, the arbitrary use of colour and distorted perspective come together, it seems, so effortlessly, yet with such emotional intensity.
All the work was so interesting. Congratulations to each and every artist. We hope for an eager public response. In the mean time, let’s celebrate the possibility of extending the ground won.
*****