Winning artists to show work at Joondalup Art Gallery

FIVE winning artists are preparing to exhibit their work at the Joondalup Art Gallery.

The Joondalup Community Arts Association is holding its annual Members Art Awards exhibition from January 30 to February 16.

It stems from the JCAA Members Selection exhibition held in August, where five winners were selected in the categories of photography and digital media (Brian Sanger), sculpture (Julia Andrijasevich), technical excellence (Jennifer Sadler), mixed media (Colin Drummond) and painting (Gail Leidich).

The winners were awarded a two-week joint exhibition and one-year free membership from the JCAA.

Three new artworks as well as the pieces exhibited at the Selection Exhibition will be on display, with an overall winner of $500 to be selected by three external judges on February 2.

Brian Sanger said his work was inspired by imagery used by concept artists in contemporary film making and PhotoShop elements.

“I want my artworks to reflect a futuristic environment; secret agencies reading our minds, shadows caused by supernatural walls containing strange messages and other thought provoking concepts,” he said.

Julia Andrijasevich said having spent many years working with fabrics and textiles, her transition into textile art was a “slow process”.

“A complete feeling of powerlessness when confronted by social injustice was my final motivation,” she said.

“The use of natural fibres and ancient techniques link each piece to past generations and their human experiences.”

Jennifer Sadler said her work was framed by themes of “connection and sensory experience”.

“Applying the processes of mark making and encaustic, I am able to walk into the memories of previous landscape encounters,” she said.

Colin Drummond said his series of paintings were to symbolise “environmental destruction and abuse of the land”.

“The dire plight of marginalised groups of people due to conflicts, insensitivity of society, nefarious practices and environmental destruction resulting in migration to seek, hopefully, a more humane environment,” he said.

“Their migration illustrates the disparity between ‘the haves ’ and ‘have nots’.”

Gail Leidich said she was “constantly challenging” herself.

“The process is what interests me as I experiment with motion, texture and abstraction.”

Gallery curator Val Shaw said this was one of the major exhibitions of the year.

“The JCAA initiated this small art awards program in 2014, encouraging our members to explore, experiment, conceptualise and try different ways of creative expression,” she said.

“Artists have to submit an artist statement relating to their work and strive for uniqueness, technical resolution and excellence in their chosen field.

“This has now become an annual event as we have found it to be very worthwhile, lifting the standard of work produced and furthering interest in concept and experimentation.”

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