“Art makes a vibrant community and tonight we have art in abundance. Diversity and complexity equals individuality and we can all enjoy this diversity,” declared Mayor Noll as he opened the Wattle Range Art Exhibition in front of a full gallery on Friday night.
A short time later it was announced that he had selected Julie Ann McEwen’s ‘Flowers for Millecent Glen’ a beautiful mixed media piece featuring watercolour, collaged repurposed paper and cloth, intricately threaded as the Mayoral Prize.
Manager Libraries and Gallery and exhibition curator Janice Nitschke says that the opening and announcement of prize winners was an outstanding success.
“Both the Gallery and Library were packed beyond expectation for the opening with artists, friends, and community. Adelaide judges Dr Lisa Slade (AGSA) and Emeritus Professor Kay Lawrence AM were amazed by both the numbers at the opening and the art,” Janice explained.
“They spoke highly of the 189 entries and the 70 student works entered by artists from Penola High School and St Anthony’s Primary students and they reminded us how fortunate we were to have such a vibrant arts community,” she said.
Jo Jo Spook’s ‘The Hitchhiker’, won the prestigious Wattle Range Art Prize, a sculpture made from Ghostnets and found objects. Runner up was local indigenous artist Jennifer Bishop’s ‘The Whale Kondili Dreaming Story’ which resonated with Dr Lisa Slade who knew the story.
Julie Kent, long-time supporter of the Exhibition won the painting category with a landscape titled ‘Coastline’ whilst Hamish’s mesmerising ‘The Look’ was runner up, a brooding eagle in black and white enamel on canvas. Millicent artist, Carol Baxter’s ‘Leafy Sea Dragon’ was highly commended.
Anne Mile’s ‘Lake McIntyre’ a beautiful print of two birds in the reeds at the Lake, a two plate linocut, won the Drawing and Printmaking category, with Janet Cane’s delightful drawing ‘Birds’ named runner up.
Penola artist Dagny Strand’s beautiful small sculpture – a brooch, a ‘Windy Day in Petticoat Lane’ made from recycled electroplated nickel silver and piano wire won the sculpture section. The front depicted washing on the line in Petticoat Lane taken in at night and hung out during the day. Runner up was first time entrant Toni Greenwood and her sculpture ‘Over the Old Vineyard’.
Another Penola artist, Cate Bell won the Mixed Media category with her encaustic piece titled ‘Gotta Love the Weekends’, featuring a piece of pizza. Nita Von Stanke’s ‘Morning Light’, an evocative and moody piece depicting a forest, was runner up.
In the Textile category, Jo Fife’s ‘Specimen 001’, a free motion stitching of algae was the winner. Whilst runner-up was Chrissy Pudney’s ‘Lost and Found’ - a beautiful bowl made from weaving wire and rope and beach debris. Marg Hage’s ‘Around Each Corner’ and Jayne Stacey’s ‘Lepus Timidus’ were highly commended in this section.
Glenda Sutardy and Paul Sundstrom both won first time entrant’s awards, among what was a record number of artists exhibiting on the first occasion.
The judges commented on the quality of the youth entries, particularly that of Sophie Tilley who won the Youth award with her beautiful painting of ‘Bolt’ – the black and white family dog and Angus Patterson who was runner-up. Awards were also made to Fraser from St Anthony’s Primary and Jordan Dinnison from Penola High School.
“The Exhibition continues through to the 21st of December in the Millicent Gallery, and we encourage everyone to come along and have a look, it really is a must see,” Janice concluded.
For further information on this release please contact:
Janice Nitschke, Manager Libraries and Gallery, Wattle Range Council
Email: library@wattlerange.sa.gov.au
Telephone: (08) 8733 0903