SWIRLING her brush on a blank canvas Nedlands artist Rowena Keall Walsh created a unique snapshot of her friends’ pride and joy; their beach shack at Mangles Bay.
The piece, titled Shack Community Dusk (Mangles Bay), took out the major prize in the Open Category at the second City of Rockingham Art Awards on May 6.
Appreciation of its sentiment, and perhaps with the area’s fate still hanging in the balance, made judges decide Walsh’s work was a stand out piece.
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READ NOWCurator Lyn DiCiero said the selection process was difficult.
“We looked for works which were resolved, proficient and technically excellent, with all styles from abstract to realism considered,” she said.
Walsh said doing the painting had given her an appreciation of Point Peron.
“In 2015, when my friends asked me to paint the view from their shack at Point Peron, I became aware of the development planned for the area,” she said.
“It became the subject of my solo exhibition at UWA’s Cullity Gallery in November last year.
“I visited Point Peron on and off for a year in preparation for the show, so I feel I have a close connection to the Rockingham area.”
Sixty-eight finalists were selected from more than 300 entries, submitted under six categories including Emerging, Heritage, Open, Local Residents, Indigenous and the Robert Carter Youth Award.
Mayor Barry Sammels said the City was committed to providing residents with artistic opportunity and cultural diversity.
“The Art Awards encourage artists to put their natural talents to use, to give them the opportunity to display their works and provide them with a pathway to establish themselves in the art world,” he said.
The finalists are on display at both the Gary Holland Community Centre and the Rockingham Arts Centre until Saturday 20 May, with many of the works for sale.
Visitors are encouraged to vote for their favourite artwork to be in the running to win $250.
City of Rockingham 2017 Art Awards winners
– Robert Carter Youth Award $1,500: It’s All Too Much by Amberley Matray. – Local Resident Award $1,500: New Beginnings by Vanessa Liebenberg. – Emerging Award: $2,500 for an artist who has practised their art continuously for less than five years: Girl with a Pomegranate by Gemma Mangano. – Heritage Award: $4,000 for the work that best captures the history, heritage or cultural significance of the Rockingham region: Seaforth McKenzie’s Cave by Michael Doherty. – Indigenous Award: $4,000 acquisitive award: Untitled by Peter Dean Wally. The City is proud of the relationships we have forged with the Nyungar people, and this award recognises the important and nationally-defining work created by First Australians. – Open Award: $5,000 acquisitive for an established artist in continuous public practice for over five years: Shack Community Dusk by Rowena Keall Walsh. This award represents the highest standard of works submitted to the Awards.
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