Emerald Art Awards 2023 recipients announced

Recipients of the annual Central Highlands Regional Council Art Awards – Emerald have been announced. The official award presentation happened on Saturday night at the 30th Anniversary of the art awards in Emerald.

Council received a record 208 entries across seven categories.

Deputy Mayor Christine Rolfe presented the awards and was thankful for how well-supported this anniversary event was.

‘208 entries are the most we have ever had, it is fitting given that this is the 30th Anniversary,’ said Cr. Rolfe.

‘There is amazing talent on display across all categories, with lots of new artists and plenty of familiar names.

‘Congratulations to the winners, and all entrants. It truly is an outstanding exhibition,’ she said.

Voting for the People’s Choice Award will continue until midnight on 20 August 2023 (midnight) via council’s Have Your Say platform. The winner will be announced via social media on 22 August 2023.

All entries will be on display at the Emerald Art Gallery Monday to Friday between 8.30 am and 5.00 pm until 14 September 2023.

Award recipients:

Category 1: Easel Based Works

First: Ainslie McMahon – The Journey

Second: Joanne Kerr – Summer Road Trip

Highly Commended: Kim Price – Purple Haze II

Highly Commended: Carmen Beezley-Drake – Where Giants Fall

Category 2: Works on Paper

First: Natasha Stanton – Forest

Second: Tara Lewis – Early Bird

Highly Commended: Ainslie McMahon – Fairy Wrens in my backyard

Category 3: Three Dimensional & Fibre Works

First: Raelene Bock & Michelle Gray – The end, or the beginning?

Second: Sarah-Menai Strittmatter – Burgeon Bowl

Highly Commended: Lawrie Stanton – Cosmic Layers

Category 4: Photography

First: Sandra Ryan – Playing solitaire til dawn

Second: Joshua Clarricoats – Private Investigations

Highly Commended: Natasha Jurd – Roar (Raw)

Category 5: Digital Art

First: Karen Galea – Shocked

Second: Meisha Greentree – X marks the spot

Highly Commended: Tricia Godwin – Invisible Beauty & the Beasts

Category 6: Juvenile 13 – 18 years

First: Crissa Ponggo – Pursuit of Wisdom

Second: Erin Godfrey – Something Intricate

Highly Commended: Lindy Johnson – The Creation of New

Highly Commended: Charlenee Bottenbruch – Rabbit

Category 7: Junior 12 years and under

First: Vivian Pace – The Mine

Second: Diyln Pickard – Face of an Angel

Highly Commended: Tavenor Stewart – Our Chook

Highly Commended: Harper Loch – Me and Mum

Highly commended: Rafael Chivers – Bottle Tree

CHRC Local Artist award:

Shawna Fidler – Two Ducks

CHRC Acquisitive Prize:

Geoff Head – Tree Shadow

People’s Choice Award

TBA –