Guest judge, Wendy Sharp, and the Best Exhibit (adult) titled "Laid Bare" by Felicity Cavanough
Laid bare
Recycled copper wire
It is a magical light produced by the setting sun, one that danced lightly on every part of my body, whispering and celebrating everything about me that shines. It unearthed my beauty in ways I'd never acknowledged before and I looked on as though observing as a third person.
As I become older, I’ve become aware that I care less & less how my body looks, instead focussing on what it can still do.
Best Exhibit (youth) Darcie Gravitis
Atmospheric
Ceramic sculpture
The pressure, the tension we are under with the current crisis – the climate crisis – the issue is being buried. I see the sky as a constant reminder… others simply see blue.
Best Exhibit (child) Nathan Kleu, 4 years old
Digger
Helen Oakley Memorial Prize - Catherine Sykes
The interconnectedness of our dreams
Wheel-thrown stoneware, glazed and glued with gold and silver dust
Lockdowns made us yearn for connections. I fancied that when we dreamt of another, they too were dreaming of us and so despite separation we were tethered. This was also true of dreaming of the dead, engaging with and enlivening them in our dreams, precious time again together.
Richard Cross Memorial Prize - Frank Denis
I see you now
Timber and steel
With the support of my ancestors I unearthed my creative expression.
I learnt to reject others’ prejudice and refused to be held back by the limitations of others.
Inspired by a charcoal drawing, eight layers of cut steel mesh encased in a timber frame, combine to produce an image of a face.
Highly commended - Michael Bourke
Minotaur leaving Stacks Downunder
Acrylic on canvas
On Tuesdays, a minotaur rises from the depths of Stacks Downunder variety store and labyrinth in order to enjoy a counter lunch at the Post Office Hotel.
Highly commended - Justine Parkins
Me
Soft pastels
Unearthed, the authentic self, the unconditional part, the most beautiful, powerful form… me!
Highly commended - Sue Nichols
Disturbed
Photograph
An image symbolic of the emotions we may keep hidden beneath the surface until brought to light during trying times.
Recent torrential rains disturbed the earth to reveal what remains of a child’s memory, which was long forgotten and buried beneath the surface.
What emotions does this image conjure in your mind?
Highly commended and People's Choice award - Tanya Stevens
Medicine Wheel
Acrylic on canvas
This painting is about unearthing ancient Aboriginal art, and Gundungurra Heritage from the Blue Mountains which is Ancient, and very rare from the Megalong Valley. I have depicted mountains, a waterhole and campsite.
Commended - Mia Erder (child section)
The struggle of Good vs Evil
Pastel
My artwork represents the earth, sky, good and evil that is in our world.
Commended - Taylor Bourke, Yr 7 Coolah
Landscape
Commended - Nicola Mason
Prop XIX, France
Oil on canvas
This painting is part of a series of twenty little works painted as painting props. These painting props were then placed around my studio on the walls, chairs, shelves and even the floor before being painted again and again as paintings in new painting scenes. These little painting props are of scenes and visions of my time living in France. I enjoyed playing with the yellow underpainting ground in these works. I like the sense of light it brings to them. I hope that these little works may invite the viewer somewhere else within their own thoughts.
Commended - Tina Matthews
Three Mothers Heading Anywhere but Home
Glassine, shellac, paint, ink, tissue, nylon, lead, steel
During the long covid years I unearthed all kinds of forgotten and unused materials – glassine, shellac, paint, ink, tissue and steel – which I made into a series of mobiles. The idea for the glassine cones emerged from my unconscious mind in a dream. I was teaching a night class, making small black cones from paper, then setting fire to them. The title of this mobile comes from my memory of being a young mother out without my babies and walking free.