\u201cArt makes a vibrant community and tonight we have art in abundance. Diversity and complexity equals individuality and we can all enjoy this diversity.\u201d<\/p>\n
They were the words of Wattle Range Mayor Des Noll as he officially unveiled the 2022 Wattle Range Art Exhibition earlier this month.<\/p>\n
A large crowd took the opportunity to be on hand to see the diverse range of entries and hear rhe winners of each category announced.<\/p>\n
JoJo Spook\u2019s \u2018The Hitchhiker\u2019 won the prestigious Wattle Range Art Prize, a sculpture made from Ghostnets and found objects, while runner up was local indigenous artist Jennifer Bishop\u2019s \u2018The Whale Must-see exhibition unveiled in Millicent Local artists shine in the 2022 Wattle Range Art Exhibition Kondili Dreaming Story\u2019 which resonated with Dr Lisa Slade, who knew the story.<\/p>\n
Julie Ann McEwen\u2019s \u2018Flowers for Millecent Glen\u2019 took out one of the other top prizes on the night with her beautiful mixed media piece featuring watercolour, collaged repurposed paper and cloth, intricately threaded announced as the winner of the Mayoral Prize.<\/p>\n
Manager libraries and gallery and exhibition curator Janice Nitschke said the opening and announcement of prize winners was an outstanding success. \u201cBoth the Gallery and Library were packed beyond expectation for the opening with artists, friends, and community,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAdelaide judges Dr Lisa Slade (AGSA) and Emeritus Professor Kay Lawrence AM were amazed by both the numbers at the opening and the art.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey spoke highly of the 189 entries and the 70 student works entered by artists from Penola High School and St Anthony\u2019s Primary students and they reminded us how fortunate we were to have such a vibrant arts community.\u201d<\/p>\n
There were a raft of other award winners, including long time supporter of the exhibition Julie Kent, who won the painting category with a landscape titled \u2018Coastline\u2019, whilst Hamish\u2019s mesmerising \u2018The Look\u2019 was runner up, a brooding eagle in black and white enamel on canvas. Millicent artist, Carol Baxter\u2019s \u2018Leafy Sea Dragon\u2019 was highly commended.<\/p>\n
Anne Mile\u2019s \u2018Lake McIntyre\u2019 a beautiful print of two birds in the reeds at the Lake, a two plate linocut, won the Drawing and Printmaking category, with Janet Cane\u2019s drawing \u2018Birds\u2019 named runner up.<\/p>\n
Penola artist Dagny Strand\u2019s beautiful small sculpture \u2013 a brooch – a \u2018Windy Day in Petticoat Lane\u2019 made from recycled electroplated nickel silver and piano wire won the sculpture section. The front depicted washing on the line in Petticoat Lane taken in at night and hung out during the day. Runner up was first time entrant Toni Greenwood and her sculpture \u2018Over the Old Vineyard\u2019.<\/p>\n
Another Penola artist, Cate Bell, won the Mixed Media category with her encaustic piece titled \u2018Gotta Love the Weekends\u2019, featuring a piece of pizza. Nita Von Stanke\u2019s \u2018Morning Light\u2019, an evocative and moody piece depicting a forest, was runner up. In the Textile category, Jo Fife\u2019s \u2018Specimen 001\u2019, a free motion stitching of algae was the winner.<\/p>\n
Whilst runner-up was Chrissy Pudney\u2019s \u2018Lost and Found\u2019 – a beautiful bowl made from weaving wire and rope and beach debris.<\/p>\n
Marg Hage\u2019s \u2018Around Each Corner\u2019 and Jayne Stacey\u2019s \u2018Lepus Timidus\u2019 were highly commended in this section.<\/p>\n
Glenda Sutardy and Paul Sundstrom both won first time entrant\u2019s awards, among what was a record number of artists exhibiting on the first occasion.<\/p>\n
The judges also commented on the quality of the youth entries, particularly that of Sophie Tilley who won the Youth award with her beautiful painting of \u2018Bolt\u2019 \u2013 the black and white family dog and Angus Patterson, who was runnerup. Awards were also handed out to Fraser from St Anthony\u2019s Primary and Jordan Dinnison from Penola High School.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe exhibition continues through to the 21st of December in the Millicent Gallery, and we encourage everyone to come along and have a look, it really is a must see,\u201d Mrs Nitschke said.<\/p>\n
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