Region’s talent on show at 60th art awards
Date published: 23 October 2015
The region’s most prestigious showcase for local artists, the 60th Townsville Art Awards and 2015 Townsville Open Art Award, attracted 137 entries.
Entries included 57 artists vying for the $5,000 Townsville Open Art Award, sponsored by Townsville City Council.
Organised by the Townsville Art Society, the exhibition at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery provides an excellent opportunity for local artists to be recognised and remunerated, and this year offered a number of awards and a prize pool in excess of $13,000.
The awards were officially opened by Mayor Jenny Hill and judged by artist John Downton, who has won countless prizes, citations, medals and awards from around the world including a Fellowship of Royal Art Society in 2000, the Australian Society of Marine Artists (ASMA) President’s Medal in 2004 and a Fellowship of the ASMA in 2004.
"I have been judging for close to 40 years and I have never come across so many styles and subject matter in one particular medium like is on display in the Townsville Art Society Awards. It’s great to have artists have a go at anything and everything," Mr Downton said.
He selected Pat Lowth’s work Nature’s Best as the winner of the major $5,000 Townsville Open Art Award.
"It’s the kind of work that really draws you right into it. There’s a mood that the storm, rain and waves create and your eye travels across the work to the lighting strike in upper right corner. There’s good technique, use of colour theme and palette knife which lends itself completely to the subject matter," he said.
Community and Culture Committee chair Cr Sue Blom praised all the artists involved.
"We have such a high calibre of artists in the Townsville region; I congratulate each and every one of them on their efforts and for making this 60th year of the event such a success."
Members of the public are invited to attend a Judge’s talk at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery at 10.30am Saturday 24 October, where John Downton will detail his thoughts about the artworks on show.
Admission is free to all events. The exhibition will continue until November 15.
The winners of each section are as follows:
THE OPEN SECTION
Highly Commended ($500) sponsored by McDonald’s Family Restaurant:
Robert Henry Torsos
The Open Award ($5,000) sponsored by Townsville City Council:
Pat Lowth Nature’s Best
SECTION 2. ACRYLIC
Highly Commended ($200) sponsored by Colliers International Townsville:
Carole Howlett Rockpool Reflections
The Acrylic Award ($1,000) sponsored by Directors Australia:
Renet Harris-Botha Buffalo
SECTION 3. WATERCOLOUR
Highly Commended ($200 voucher) sponsored by Doo Town:
Emily Hill Larks Quarry
The Watercolour Award ($1,000) sponsored by Directors Australia:
Val Claussen Dry Times
SECTION 4. OIL PAINTING
Highly Commended ($200) sponsored by Richard and Jenny Lane:
Carole Howlett Port Presence
The Oil Painting Award ($1,000) sponsored by Lend Lease (Communities) Townsville:
Margaret Crawford Shades of Capricornia
SECTION 5. PASTEL
Highly Commended ($200) sponsored by the Townsville Yacht Club:
Rob Douma Crippled Scribbler Scribbling
The Pastel Award ($1,000) sponsored by Townsville Art Society:
Laura Castell Love Woman and Child
SECTION 6. INK, PENCIL, CHARCOAL - DRAWING
Highly Commended ($200 voucher) sponsored by Award Picture Framing:
Rob Douma The Smoker
The Ink, Pencil, Charcoal Drawing Award ($1,000) sponsored by Dr Kerry Gillespie:
Laura Castell Love in Black and White
SECTION 7. PRINTMAKING
Highly Commended ($200) sponsored by PressNorth Printmakers:
Emily Hill Bottle Palm
The Printmaking Award ($1,000) sponsored by Top Frames:
Kerrie Cleverdon Encounter
SECTION 8. MINIATURES
Highly Commended Award ($100) sponsored by Stephen Lane Photography:
Norma Twyne Ross River Favourite Place
The Miniatures Award ($500) sponsored by Darcy Engineering & Mine Surveying, BnD Quality Picture Framing and Townsville Art Society:
Sonia Ward Landing in Nod
SPECIAL AWARD:
60th Anniversary Commemorative Award ($400) sponsored by a Peer Group of the Townsville Art Society:
Annette Ireland Autumn Evening
