Young artists’ talents put on show

East Gippsland Shire Council’s first Youth Art Prize competition was a great success, attracting almost 50 entries from across the region.

At the exhibition opening, Mayor Cr Joe Rettino said the future of the East Gippsland arts community was in safe hands with the overwhelming amount of talent on display.

First Prize went to Forge Creek’s Lauren Hickey for ‘The Artist’s Smile’. The 17-year-old, who studies Studio Art, drew a portrait using coloured pencils.

“I like exploring portraiture, challenging human perceptions and the way we see other cultures and what other cultures reflect,” Lauren said.

The Youth Art Prize was the first competition Lauren has entered. She has won $300 and a solo exhibition at the East Gippsland Art Gallery’s sideshow gallery.

Originally, judges were going to award prizes for first, second and third. However, while there was a clear winner for first place, the judges were unable to separate three of the entries for second and third place.

Judges chose to combine the $200 and $100 prizes for second and third, and instead award three $100 Second Prizes. These were awarded to Michael Stevens for ‘Closeout’; Harley Kewish for ‘Syrian Boy’; and Keely Gould for ‘Tiresome’.

Council’s Arts and Culture Coordinator Andrea Court said it was a happy predicament to be in.

“The talent we saw in the entries was very impressive and it is wonderful to see young people embrace the opportunity to put their work forward for judging and exhibition,” Ms Court said.

A number of works were also highly commended: Emma Hearnes for ‘Incomplete Nude’; Ronan Hudson for ‘Tarloo - Penguin’; Simone Turner for ‘The Lonely Man’; and Phoebe O’Brien for ‘Untitled’.

Special mentions went to Sam Brown for ‘Stalked’; Olivia Scott for ‘M8’; and Lorraine Hood for ‘I love my Country’.

All entries are currently on exhibition at the Bairnsdale Library until Wednesday 10 October a small selection of  works will tour to Lakes Entrance and Orbost.

The East Gippsland Shire Council Youth Art Prize was supported by the East Gippsland Art Gallery, East Gippsland Shire Council Youth Ambassadors and FReeZA.

 Recognised for their work at the Youth Art Prize presentations were (from left) Keely Gould, Ronan Hudson, Lauren Hickey, Emma Hearnes, and Phoebe O’Brien. TOP: 

Willow Wakefield-Tromp shows her mother, Julie Tromp, her digital print ‘Shadows of Bairnsdale’.