Edenhope artist takes out new category

A NEW category in the 20th annual Naracoorte Regional Art Gallery’s Ibis Rising Awards featuring the Ibis itself, drew a diverse range of entries.

Artists from throughout the region and into Victoria entered detailed drawings, superb photographs, sculptures and metalwork examples of the Ibis.

Winning the main prize in the Ibis category was Edenhope’s Meagan Lonsdale with her drawing of a straw-necked Ibis using watercolours, gouache and palladium leaf on silk and paper.

Sharyn Hansen’s drawing of an Australian White Ibis entitled ‘Where do I forage now?’ was highly commended.

The opening of the Ibis Rising exhibition and presentation of the awards was attended by about 80 people.

Naracoorte art supporter Kay Hole gave the crowd a pocket history of the gallery and the formation of the South East Cultural Trust which maintains the interior of the building while the Naracoorte Lucindale Council looks after the exterior.

In March 2005 the Ibis Rising bronze statue and fountain, by Heather Ellis of Melbourne, was unveiled and the Ibis Rising Art Awards have been held annually since then.

Mrs Hole congratulated the Gallery Board for introducing the new Ibis category in this year’s awards.

Marion Patterson of the Bourne Bird Museum loaned a taxidermied Straw Necked Ibis and a photo of a large number of the birds in a water filled Bool Lagoon for the exhibition.

In the 2D category, Meagan Lonsdale was again in first place with her highly detailed drawing of native orchids entitled ‘Poolaijelo Spiders’.

Jo Jo Spook from Robe was in second place with her acrylic ‘Winter Wonderland’.

There were 28 entries in the photography category and of a very high standard.

Diana Vine took the honours with a photograph called ‘Early Morning Catch’.

The shot of a grebe with a fish in its beak was taken early in the morning after an overnight camp by Captured Images, the Naracoorte Camera Club, at Nelson, Victoria. Varlin Duncan of Edenhope was second with his image called ‘Ducklings’.

OTHER RESULTS:

3D – Winner, Lesley Cook with ‘Rockpool Treasures’ made of nuno felt. Second, Bruce Wilmer, ‘Epergne with a Twist’, a forged candlestick incorporating an antique glass epergne flute.

High School – Winner, Bri Boyington, drawing of Taylor Swift; Second, Max Boddington, 3D Pelican using a motorbike fuel tank for the body.

Primary Year 4 to 6 – Winner, Charlie Haynes, ‘Feather and Waves’; Second, Lucy Pittard, ‘Monster Apocalypse’.

Up to Year 3 – Winner, Darcie Beauchamp, ‘Sunset’; Second, Harvey Manefield, ‘Night Sky’.

Naracoorte children’s author, Elizabeth Crowley was on hand to sign copies of her latest book ‘High, high, high Up in the Sky’ which features red-tailed black cockatoos. Copies of the book are for sale in the Gallery.

Most entries in the awards are for sale with many selling on opening night.

The exhibition runs until June 1 with the Gallery open Wednesday to Friday 10am to 4pm and Saturday and Sunday 10am to 3pm.

Many visitors to Naracoorte took advantage of the Gallery being open over Easter. It will also be open on Anzac Day and subsequent public holidays providing sufficient voluntary gallery assistants are available.

The new public holiday openings are to encourage both visitors and locals alike to visit the gallery and enjoy art on show.