ILUKA artist Cass Gartner’s portrait of a sheep shearer is on display in the Collie Art Prize exhibition, which opened last weekend.
“His name is ‘Banjo’ Paterson and he’s a born and bred Collie sheep shearer,” Gartner said.
“The theme of the art prize is ‘identity’ and I thought what better way to capture that than an old soul like Banjo.
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READ NOW“I managed to find him by contacting one of the local Collie pubs and was put in touch with his daughter-in-law who very kindly, after consulting with Banjo, agreed for me to take photos.”
Gartner’s painting is one of a handful of entries by WA artists chosen from more than 500 submissions, with 42 works picked from across the country.
The Watercolour Society of WA member also has a painting that will be exhibited in an International Watercolour Exhibition in Maccagno on Lake Maggiore in Italy from June 23 to September 2.
The society was invited to exhibit 15 paintings by the Italian Watercolour Society.
The Collie Art Prize exhibition will run until April 15.
Cairns-based Torres Strait Islander Brian Robinson won the $50,000 overall prize for his linocut print, By Virtue of This Act I Hereby Take Possession of This Land.
Visit www.collieartgallery.org.au for more information.
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