Rockingham Art Prize to Celebrate Artistic Expression
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The 68 finalists for this year’s awards include recognised Perth-based artists Charmaine Ball, Sam Bloor, Olga Cironis, Jo Darbyshire, Eric Hynynen, Anne McCaughey, Alex Spremberg and John Teschendorff. Regional artists stretch from Broome-based Carolina Furque, to Megan Councillor and Nicole Dickerson of Yamaji Art in Geraldton, and sculptors Nic Compton and Tom de Munk-Kerkmeer in York.
Highly regarded Fremantle-based artist Olga Cironis has an arresting archival photographic print of which she states, “In Hope a female warrior wearing camouflage faces the audience offering a child’s closed Pandora’s box. Her identity is hidden from our gaze by a red censoring mark as she herself sets her gaze on us…Through this looking there is a fleeting moment of recognition and anonymity, a dance of life and death in this global Anthropocene epoch.”
Local Rockingham artists include Louise Buma, Michael Doherty, Ashlee Hogermeer, Irene Osborne, Alfred Pollock, and emerging Indigenous artist Jayda Brown, who has been shortlisted for her striking painting Wardan Boodjar.
Jayda comments, “I have discovered a new world in art learning more about my culture and the symbols I have used. My art lets me proudly express my Indigenous background. This artwork expresses the feelings I have had since a child, of the times I have spent down at Rockingham Beach watching the sunsets”.
City of Rockingham Mayor Deb Hamblin said the exhibition offered a viewpoint into the contemporary art scene across the State.
“As well as the opportunity to professionally show their work in a curated exhibition, the exhibition presents an excellent opportunity for the finalists to network, establish new contacts and sell their work to the general public,” Mayor Hamblin said.
The City is pleased to be hosting this event which will have a prize pool of more than $20,000 across several categories including First Prize, Small Sculpture Award, Aboriginal Artist Award, Emerging Artist Award, Local Resident Award and People’s Choice Award.The exhibition will open for public viewing from 6 - 21 May, Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm with free admission and parking at the Rockingham Arts Centre, 11 Kent Street, Rockingham.
For more information visit Art Prize.
Main image: The Art Prize Exhibition will be on display at the Rockingham Arts Centre throughout May. Picture: City of Rockingham.
Image two: Highly regarded Fremantle-based artist Olga Cironis' work Hope 1/4 will be on display at the Art Prize.
Image three: Local Rockingham artist Jayda Brown's entry Wardan Boodjar.
Image four: Tom de Munk-Kerkmeer's Frivolous Refuse. Note - All images supplied by participating artists.