25th Mayoral Art Exhibition works go to City’s prominent art collection

Maroondah Mayor Councillor Rob Steane has announced the acquisition of three new artworks for the Maroondah City Council Art Collection, all while supporting an important local cause.

The acquired pieces were unveiled at the recent opening of the 25th annual Mayoral Art Exhibition – Animalia.

Cr Steane selected Rubens city (Joanne Robotham), Thanatophobia (Lana de Jager) and Wayno and Bazza (Rona Green) from a pool of 110 entries.

“Council has purchased three outstanding artworks from the exhibition – each of which will make a valuable contribution to the Maroondah Art Collection,” Cr Steane said.

Along with works of historical interest acquired through the amalgamation of the former cities of Croydon and Ringwood in 1994, the Maroondah City Council Art Collection aims to acquire innovative artworks that deal with relevant contemporary arts and cultural issues.

Cr Steane said now in its 25th year, the Mayoral Art Exhibition continued to draw entries from artists right across Victoria.

“The annual exhibition is a highlight of the Mayoral calendar, attracting a diverse range of works by both professional and amateur artists.

“This year, being our 25th year, we are delighted to have received double the amount of entries on previous years, from photography, sculpture, drawing, painting, printmaking and ceramics – all of which are available for purchase.

“Each year, a work is selected from the exhibition to be added to the Maroondah City Council’s permanent collection. It has been an especially difficult choice this year with so many joyous and beautifully composed art pieces filling the gallery at Maroondah Federation Estate,” he said.

The annual Mayoral Art Exhibition is an open-call entry fundraiser in support of the Bone Marrow Donor Institute, Croydon branch, together with sponsorship from the Ringwood East-Heathmont branch of the Bendigo Community Bank, and Council.

“Artists who enter the Mayoral Art Exhibition generously donate 25 per cent from the sale of their work to aid further research into leukaemia. These proceeds go to the Bone Marrow Donor institute, Croydon branch, to help them in their important work in this area,” Cr Steane said.

“This year’s entrants were asked to address the theme of Animalia. Artists were encouraged to look at the vast diversity of animals and to consider our relationship with the animal world. “Looking at the works on display, the artists have taken this up with gusto and the subject of the artworks range from domestic pets, through to wild animals,” he said.

Artist Joanne Robotham is a member of the Gifford Arts Group based in Croydon North.

“Joanne’s fabulous narrative work called ‘Rubens city’ depicts an urban environment with just one small bird resting on the city wall. Using acrylic on paper, she poignantly illustrates the fragile relationship between nature and the urban environment,” Cr Steane said.

Lana de Jager is an accomplished printmaker who has exhibited widely in Melbourne. Her images deal with the subject of loss and grief.

“‘Thanatophobia’ is a word that describes the fear of dying or the fear of losing those we love. This work is not only sophisticated in composition, technique and concept, but it is a moving portrait of a deeply personal relationship to the animal world,” Cr Steane explained.

Rona Green is a well-regarded printmaker, painter and illustrator known for her graphic figurative works that explore ideas about individuality and persona.

“Rona has been the recipient of numerous awards and has exhibited widely throughout Australia. Wayno and Bazza is a comical work inspired by tattooing, sub-cultures and secret societies. Rona uses animal heads and tattoos to tell a story about the character in the picture,” he added.

“Congratulations to all entrants involved. I encourage the community to come and view these and other artworks at the free Mayoral Art Exhibition on display in the gallery at Maroondah Federation Estate.”

The 25th Annual Mayoral Art Exhibition: Animalia runs until Saturday 22 December 2018, at Maroondah Federation Estate, 32 Greenwood Avenue, Ringwood.

Entry to the exhibition is free.