2016 biennial North Queensland Ceramic Awards Winners
Date published: 14 March 2016
Pinnacles Gallery at Riverway Art Centre was a scene of excitement and anticipation on Saturday evening as the winners of the 2016 biennial North Queensland Ceramic Award were announced. Jeff Mincham AM was the major winner of the evening, having been awarded the City of Townsville Art Collection Award worth $10,000 for his spectacular piece Bush Ballard (Forces of Nature Series) 2015.
With over 80 stunning Ceramic artworks shortlisted in the 2016 biennial North Queensland Ceramic Awards choosing the winning works, which included not only the City of Townsville Art Collection Award but a number of others, was a challenge for judge Damon Moon, from JamFactory Contemporary Craft in Adelaide “The 2016 biennial North Queensland Ceramic Award presented an exceedingly strong and diverse group of Ceramic artworks” said Moon. Moon also commented that he was “incredibly impressed with the diversity of the field and the strength of the Ceramic artworks from the North Queensland region”.
Cr Sue Blom attended the launch and presentation of the 2016 biennial North Queensland Ceramic Awards and congratulated both the winners and the behind-the-scenes staff who made the event possible “The 2016 biennial North Queensland Ceramic Awards is a credit to the wonderful Ceramic artists of North Queensland and the nation whose work is on display in this stunning exhibition. I would also like to congratulate and commend the hard work of both the North Queensland Potters Association Inc. and Townsville City Council’s Gallery Services Staff who have worked tirelessly to deliver it.”
Shane Fitzgerald, Manager Gallery Services, said, “the 2016 biennial North Queensland Ceramic Art Award is an impressive exhibition, it is an eclectic collection of Ceramic works which are interesting, technically challenging and innovative. I would also like to the thank the generosity of the award sponsors Scott Brickworks, Loloma Jewellers, Fourex Clothing and the Rainford family, their contributions are appreciated. ”
Fitzgerald announced that “In addition to winning the City of Townsville Art Collection Award Jeff Mincham AM’s work Bush Ballard (Forces of Natures Series) has been acquired for the City of Townsville Art Collection and will become part of the Collections very impressive Ceramic sub-collection.”
Full list of winners from the 2016 biennial North Queensland Ceramic Awards
City of Townsville Art Collection Award $10,000 – Jeff Mincham AM, Bush Ballard (Forces of Nature Series), 2015
Scott Brickworks Award $1,500 – Cathy Franzi, Silver Banksia, 2016
Loloma Jewellers Award $1,000 – Mollie Bosworth, Migration, 2015
Fourex Clothing Award $500 – Leisa Gunton, Essence of a Rainforest, 2015
Rainford Award – Fiona Banner, Flask, 2016
2016 biennial North Queensland Ceramic Awards will be on display at Pinnacles Gallery, Riverway Art Centre from March 11 until May 1, 2016, entry is free.
