Ginny Reid was named Best Local Artist at the Deniliquin Easter Art Show this year, for her painting Blue Eyed Boy.
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A long-time member of the Edward River Art Society, Mrs Reid was congratulated heartily by those in attendance of the gala opening night on Thursday when the exhibition’s winners were revealed.
In the judges’ notes, the piece was praised for being lifelike and engaging.
“An ambitious large scale portrait that captures skin tones and personality, while not being static or lifeless (not an easy task),” the notes said.
“Shadowy contrast on the face with some simple features add mystery that attracts the eye to the more detailed areas.”
Another of the exhibition’s most coveted prizes was the Best in Show.
While this went to an artist living outside Deniliquin, the winning work was based on the local river system.
Nina Volk, from Balwyn in Victoria, called her work Edward River/Kolety (Murray Valley National Park).
“Thoughtful and well executed combination of techniques with balanced colours and textures,” the judges’ notes read.
“The piece caught both judges - a standout that captured a feeling of the bush in a unique and skilful manner.”
Judges Catherine Stewart and Kain White attended the gala opening to celebrate with the artists, while photography judge Harry Kenney-Herbert was unable to attend.
There was great attendance at the opening, and a good number of people visited the exhibition in its opening days over the Easter long weekend.
Normally only limited to the four days of Easter, the exhibition will stay open longer for the first time this year.
All works can be viewed until May 17, in the Multi Arts Centre and its adjacent hall.
The art show is presented by the Rotary Club of Deniliquin and the Edward River Art Society, which calls the Multi Arts Centre home.
Special guest speakers at the opening included ERAS president Lou Graham, Rotary president Iain Goodway and Edward River Council Mayor Ash Hall.
Other award winners, and the judging notes, were as follows:
Artistic Merit: Jan Barnett, Evanescence - Extremely detailed and emotive piece with layers of symbolic and aesthetic depth. Unique use of line work to sculpt the solid and dense tree forms, that contrasts with the free flowing movement of the birds above.
Artistic Merit: Stuart Taylor, Angle Owl - A lively and graceful rendition in an unlikely medium. Both judges were impressed by the delicate touches in some of the feathers and leaves at its base, along with the likely technical challenges of balancing the piece physically.
Local Scene: Rachel Braybon, Finding Dusk - Strong use of brushwork with a contrast of colours to place the viewer in the landscape.
Youth Artist Prize: Chantelle Malloy, kapal nyim - Very well executed piece with care for details and colour choices while staying within the theme.
Picture Hanger’s Prize: Pam Wettenhall, Foreign Correspondence.
Mixed media: Louise Graham, Riverwalk 1 - An interesting composition combining subtle layers and textures. A delicate layered and unique take on a common theme.
Oil: Lorraine Burns, Soup & Stripes - Well executed classic still life tells a story with its subject. Sensitively applied colour palette with just the right amount of detail.
Acrylic: Kaye Ervin, Stand Off - Fascinating piece with a surprising amount of complexity to the composition. The space above and below creates tension that provides the viewer with a sense of entrapment for the three sheep. Simple forms add to the sense of movement.
Works on Paper (Wet Mediums): Vida Pearson, Spinifex Pigeons - Expertly executed engraving with perfect colouring. Composition is unconventional which adds to its fascination.
Works on Paper (Dry Mediums): Sue Raccanello, As the Fog Lifts - Great sculpting of the rocks and foliage with a soft contrasted backdrop in a good choice of composition to create a feeling of height.
Photography: Stacey Clancy, Watching and Waiting - A perfectly imperfect composition depicting a slice of life so eloquently! Humour of the dogs positioning juxtaposed with the normality of the scene.
Sculpture: Sue Bentley, Nuts and Leaves - A mixture of colours and textures reminiscent of the bush with very accurate to life glazing.
Ceramic and Textiles: Pam Wettenhall, Dancing Shadows - A beautifully composed and crafted textile artwork. A wonderful combination of natural materials and perfectly presented.