The Rotary Club of Numurkah 43rd Annual Art & Craft exhibition was held in the Numurkah Town Hall from Friday 10th to Monday 13th March, attracting excellent exhibits, appreciated by a large public attendance.
Rotary Club President Rex Shield welcomed everyone at the official opening Friday night, thanking them for their attendance. Rex also thanked the exhibitors for such a wide and diverse collection of art and craft including photography on display.
Rex thanked the organising committee led by Chris Sutton and acknowledged the contribution of Lou Hamon who served as chairman of the committee for 27 years, ensuring the longevity and high standard of the exhibition.
The exhibition was officially opened by Rotary District Governor David McPherson who congratulated the Rotary club for such an outstanding exhibition.
Art judge, Ross Paterson, before announcing and commenting on the art entries congratulated the Rotary Club on the longevity of the exhibition, which he considered to be the best art show in regional Victoria with its wide selection of work in a wide variety of styles and medium. Ross then announced the winners in each section.
Jeff Buzza from Home Hardware and Timber, the major sponsor, spoke on behalf of the sponsors saying once again he marvelled at the skill of the artists and their willingness to put themselves out there to face our criticism.
Best in Show was awarded to “Still Life with Fruit” by Glen Hoyle from Langwarrin. Ross said, “The artist has utilised tonal values and colour to achieve the necessary illusion of well arranged fruit and transparent plastic wrapping”.
Runner Up was “Garden Memories” by Do Noble from Doveton. “A well-designed work, exemplary in its use of colour gradation to attain a poetic feeling”.
Best Oil was “Summer Colour, Harcourt” by Geoff Paynter from Bendigo. “A painting of excellent mood, light, and skilful colour mixing to attain the essential feeling of summer”.
Best Watercolour was “Morning Light, Prague” by Glen Hoyle from Langwarrin. “This painting is a stand-out, with its excellent design and the very clean, lucid washes of varying tone and intensity – all used to obtain a work of mood and feeling.”
Best Pastel was “Eye On the Job” by Marianne Scarvelis from Murchison. “A work of action and very appropriate colour on a grey-toned paper base, utilising tone and colour with some skill to fulfill the work”.
Best Acrylic was “The Red Tea Pot” by Maryann Jenkins, Echuca. “A lovely decorative painting with great use of colour and composition”
Kevin Davis Regional Artist Encouragement Award was “Still Life” by Norma Bailey-Ramsay, Tocumwal. “A lovely, aesthetic painting arrangement of still life form”.
Moira Art & Culture Inc. Encouragement Award was “The Lonely Dog” by Geoff Lugg, Numurkah. “Geoff uses his own unique way of interpreting to his paintings, and his use of strong edges, contrast of tone and texture, all combine to enhance”.
Highly Commended:
Peter Moulton, Mulwala, “Summer Storm”.
Bev Williams, Numurkah “The Colours of Autumn”.
Jeanette Graham, Strathmerton “A Road to Somewhere”.
Photographic Award was “The Bike” by Dennis Rickard, Numurkah. “A beautiful, produced work of art, quite simple in concept, yet well balanced and unified by the textured stone wall.”
Runner Up Photography Award “After the Harvest - Numurkah” by Gavin Parkinson. “The photographer’s patience and excellent timing to capture “this instance in time” is quite remarkable.”
Claire Reid, Craft Judge commented on the wide variety of craft forms in announcing the winners.
Best Craft Entry was David Saxton “Singer Sewing Machine Tractor”. “Using repurposed found objects to create a tractor with moving parts, was amazing”.
Quilt Award Margaret Andrew with “Rajah Arrived”. “Margaret has reimagined with Australian colouring a quilt created in 1849 by convict women”.
General Craft was awarded to Lorna Colmer, Nathalia “Shire Horse”. “A needle felted shire horse beautifully felted over a frame and use of varied fleece”.
Knitting and Crochet Award was Fiona Carruthers, Numurkah “Between the lines Diamonds”. “Stranded cotton crochet in a diamond pattern. Movement and colour change as the item is draped is stunning”.
Ceramic and Pottery Award Wendy Lee, Brigalong, “Small Vase”. “Beautifully balanced glaze in a duck egg blue glaze.”
Chris Sutton, chair of the Art & Craft Committee of the Rotary Club of Numurkah said “The club was incredibly pleased with the standard of work on display, the support of local sponsors, and the attendance numbers during the weekend.
