37th Annual Art & Craft Exhibition 2017

 

 

The Rotary Club of Numurkah 37^th Annual Art & Craft Exhibition was held over the weekend from Friday 10^th March to Monday 13^th March.

The official opening on Friday by Damian Drum MP also heard the art judge, Terry Jarvis announce the award winners plus his comments on the award paintings.

 

In his opening remarks, art judge Terry Jarvis commented “Art empowers the Community”. Art brings communities together, and that this exhibition demonstrates this.  Terry spoke of a trial study, which confirmed that including art in the curriculum lead to better academic results in non-art subjects for students.

Damian Drum M.P. in officially opening the exhibition said art is important in any community. Tastes may vary over a variety of styles, and this exhibition of high standard illustrated there is something for everyone, thus bringing people together.

Terry Jarvis selected “Upon a Blue Vase” by Gregory Smith as Best in Show. “A message and story in blue invites you into the painting and allows it to embrace you as the viewer. A disciplined piece, it is well balanced with a good variety of colour, tone and edges”.

 

 

Runner Up was “Last Vestiges of Autumn” by Barbara Beasley-Southgate. Terry commented “What a wonderful pastel. The autumn light that dances through the golden beauty of the poplar draws you into the picture”.

 

 

Best Watercolour was Lorraine Lewitska’s “Dancer”. Terry Jarvis commented “Watercolour at it’s best! Lovely washes, great strong balanced tonal areas”.

Best Oil was awarded to “Out of the Bag” by Gregory Smith. Terry Jarvis comments “A disciplined well painted oil, The different textures of onion peel, paper bag, and pottery connecting together to tell a wonderful story of kitchen”.

Best Pastel was “A Jewel in the Forest” by Barbara Beasley-Southgate. Terry commented “A beautifully painted pastel – tells a story of the sunlit path in the rainforest, Tells the story of lush growth, cooler tones receding darkly into the forest, whilst the sunlit fronds of the tree palms shine forward to the warm tones of the foreground”.

Best Regional Artist was awarded to David Hardiment for “Lazy Palms”. Terry commented “I love the sense of summer’s light shining through the palm fronds connecting the viewer to the large expanse of sky”.

Moira Art & Culture Inc. Encouragement Award was: Empress: by Tanya Phillips. Terry commented “I enjoyed the work in the dress cape and the hair and the softness of skin tones”.

Photographic Award was “Billy Buttons” by Dennis Rickard. Terry commented “A wonderful photograph of the well-known Billy Buttons, well thought out from background to lighting revealing the simplicity and yet the intriguing complexity of nature”.

Junior Photograph Award. “Wired Simplicity” by Sophie Hodge. Terry commented “A wonderful portrait of the land. A single strand of barb wire, rusted, twisted and softening into the distance”.

The Craft Section was judged by Cindy McKenzie.

Fibres, Threads or Beads Award was won by Barb Dealy with “Hardanger Tablecloth” with Honourable Mention to Shona Thomas for “Multi-coloured Shawl”.

Framed Needlework Award was awarded to Liz Bosma with “Needlework London”. Honourable mention Arie Inglis with “Lilac & Roses”.

Quilt Award was awarded to Linda Ball with “Floral Hexquilt”. Honourable mention to Margaret Andrew with “Just in Time”.

Art Quilt Award was awarded to Vicki Le Quesne.

Craft Award was awarded to Fiona Carruthers with “Sweet Pea Stole”. Highly Commended was Melinda Lempia with “Along the Murray”.Carry Bags Award was awarded to Pam Brennan and Highly Commended was Jeanette Steel.

Pam Borchard won an award for “re-born Baby”.

The exhibition was well attended with good sales.