2022 Outback Archies Art Prize, exhibition opening and winners!
The Outback Archies is officially open! On Saturday 17 September Outback Arts hosted a special exhibition opening where artists, art lovers and community members came along, to celebrate our region's artists and the 'Legends and Landscapes' that make our communities so special.
80 artworks are featured in the exhibition coming from the far-flung rural areas of not only the Outback Arts region of Bourke, Brewarrina, Bogan, Cobar, Coonamble, Warren and Walgett Shires but also, Gilgandra, Narrabri, Moree, Gunnedah, Liverpool Plains, Gwydir, Tamworth, Broken Hill, Wentworth Shire, Central Darling Shire and the Western Unincorporated Area – that’s seventeen Local Government Areas in total!
This popular exhibition and art prize is all about celebrating the colour, creativity and spirit of our communities as artists explore the theme ‘Legends and Landscapes’. The artworks included in this exhibition are presented in four major artwork categories. They include Photography, Sculpture, Ceramics and Two Dimensional.
“The joy the Outback Archies brings to such an extended audience each year is remarkable, as is the quality and diversity of entries. Its success is a credit to our region's artists that continue to inspire others to keep creating.” said Outback Arts, Executive Director, Jamie-Lea Trindall
First place in the Photography category was Adam Edwards of Broken Hill for his work titled ‘Derelict’, while second place was awarded to George Williams of Walgett for ‘Stand by Me’.
In Two Dimensional, Merren Turnbull of Bourke won first prize with her pastel artwork ‘Life Blood of the Outback’. Second place was taken by Corey Brooks of Bourke for his work titled ‘A Moment Between Dances’.
The Ceramics category was won by Kylie Lamph of Tamworth for her jug-shaped vessel titled ‘Parched’ with Anna Kennedy of Coonamble taking second place for her artwork ‘Landscape on a Vase’.
In Sculpture, the top prize went to Brendon Schembri of Gilgandra for his large-scale metal artwork,‘Take Me’ with Melissa Kelly of Gilgandra taking second place with ‘Little Wild Thing’.
This year’s youth entries in the Young Outback Archies were especially challenging for the judging panel. This resulted in an equal First being awarded to Pollyanna Wass of Warren for her artwork ‘Vase of Flowers’ and Lexie Trindall of Coonamble for her painting ‘The Dam at Dark Time’ in the Primary School category.
In the Secondary School category, Patrick Forbes of Coonamble took first place for his ceramic work titled ‘Yarning with Nan Bertha’. Second place was awarded to Charli White of Warren for ‘The Arizona’.
The judging panel were motivated to recognise Hilda and Darcy Hartog, siblings from Walgett who entered portraits of their parents, with each of them receiving a Young Curators Award.
Abigail Mclaughlin of Warren was awarded the Open Curators Award for her landscape painting ‘Duck Creek #1’.
This year’s Aboriginal Art Prize was awarded to Young Archies entrant Remi Cohen of Coonamble. The judges appreciated the exploration of her identity that was expressed in both her entries.
A Packing Room Prize was awarded by staff who unpacked and installed the exhibition, which went to ‘A Big Enduring Prayer for Country’ by Anna Kennedy of Coonamble.
The overall Outback Archies prize winner, who the judges deem to have explored and represented the theme at the highest level, through a well-resolved artwork, was awarded to George Williams of Walgett for his emu egg carving titled ‘Acknowledgement of Identity’.
Thank you to the judging panel, which was made up of Phil Aitken, Education Officer at Western Plains Cultural Centre, Hannah James, Assistant Curator of Visual Art at Campbelltown Arts Centre and Biance Edmundson, Secondary School Visual Art Teacher.
Outback Arts were excited to team up with several generous sponsors and partners. Special thanks to our Gold sponsor National Recovery and Resilience Agency, our project partners Arts North West, West Darling Arts, 2 Rivers Pty Ltd, Gilgandra Shire Council, Campbelltown Arts Centre, and our anonymous donors. Along with contributing Councils to the Outback Art program Bourke, Brewarrina, Bogan, Cobar, Coonamble, Warren and Walgett Shires.
The exhibition will be on display at the Outback Arts Gallery in Coonamble until 28 October 2022 and viewers have the opportunity to vote for their favourite artwork! The People’s Choice Award will be announced at the close of the exhibition.
