ONCE again, the Kilmore Art Expo hosted a successful exhibition for all ages to appreciate local artists, along with others from around Victoria and interstate.
Close to 350 artists entered the competition held at the Memorial Hall in Kilmore last weekend.
The event was presented by Rotary Club of Southern Mitchell and The Kilmore Art Society and thanks to the generosity of sponsors, $7680 in prize money was shared between the winning entrants.
Judges included David Chen for open section painting, Raymond Fagg for photography and Greg Stute sculpture.
The Kilmore Racing Club sponsored the grand prize, Best in Show (painting in any medium), and Salvatore Trigila won with his painting, Irises.
Five artists collected $550 each for their entries and these included:
The best oil painting, Kilmore Farmland View by Ben Winspear (sponsored by Kilmore Toyota).
Best water colour, Smokey Gums by Nina Volk, who won the Louise Payne prize).
Best pastel, Ibis by Ricky Schembri, won the Jain award). Best acrylic, Three Boats, by Glenn Hoyle (sponsored by the Dyson Family), best any other medium, Red Gold Outback Colours, by Giselle Bolotin (sponsored by La Dimora).
The Kilmore Art Expo offers an opportunity to artists to enter The Best Small Treasure category, and Dianna Garth’s A day on the Australian Coast won the Lavender Hill Farm Award ($350).
Maureen Runge impressed the judges with her larger canvas, a water colour The Gum ($220 – the Expo Committee).
The Goulburn Murray Credit Union once again sponsored the major prize for photography exhibits. Kerrie Gerlach’s entry Wallaces Hut Falls Creek won $750 in prize money.
Leanne Robson’s Unending received the Highly Commended, Val and David Corke award. The outstanding achievement was taken out by Rosemary Scott for Ant Music ($150 voucher from Milners Picture Frames Broadford).
Sculpture made a comeback to the expo and Greg Stute selected the best exhibits sharing prize money sponsored by the Expo Committee between its winners.
Kyneton artist Anne Anderson’s Elise won best sculpture in show, while Molly Lindsay won highly commended for her Duo of Quail and local Chris Anderson was runner-up with Black Cockatoo.
The People’s Choice Award (a $400 framing voucher presented by Kilmore Picture Framers) was given to A Little Birdie Told me So by Cheryl Eve.
Cheryl said she used oil paints: “It was on my easel for months. The inspiration came from being on my own again. The muse is a friend of mine from Wangaratta.”
The winner of the door prize, a basket of Nestle lollies, was Catherine Payne from Kilmore.
But the spotlight moment for art enthusiasts alike was
Liz Eades from Cheltenham won the raffle draw of Three Piece Harmony donated to the Kilmore Art Society by Ben Winspear.
Highlighting young people’s talent is at the top of President Jeanette Jain’s agenda and this year the presentations were held on Sunday. Entrants were judged by the Expo Committee and awards were presented by Three Brushes Studio business owner Sharon Delany.
Thanks to the generosity of the committee, Metro Freightlines, and Three Brushes Studio, prize money was awarded to the Best in Painting and Photography age groups.
In the Y1 (6-9 age group) Art Show category, Phoebe Haritondis won the best youth painting Sunset on the Beach, and in between Johanna Wallace won with Skipping Stones, and in the Y3 (14-17 age group), Woodend resident Eliza Ransome won with Shopping.
In the photography section, the youngest gallery did not attract any entrants. However, the Y2 (10 -13 age group,) Lucas Dixons’ Pink Skies Ahead, was voted best and in the Y3, Abigail Reynold’s Red Forest wowed the judges and also received the encouragement award.
Additionally, six art packs made excellent encouragement awards and these were supplied by the Avery Family and the Kilmore Art Society. Awardees included Amelia Cole (Y1) for Rainbow, Harriet Schembri (Y2) for Vibrant, Daniel Amstead (Y2) for his wood etching Mountains Mill and Willow Melvaine-Dainton (Y3) for In Bloom.
Developing Youth (artist) awards were presented to Genevieve Hibbert for Galaxy, Alexander Boulton for Roly-Poly, and Jessica Frankenberg for Origami Turtles.
Some of the artworks on exhibit were also for sale and at the event’s closure about 10 per cent were sold during the event.
As the volunteers put the show to bed, they begin planning for the 19th show.
Volunteers are welcome to lend a hand hanging lights and setting up the gallery. For details, visit www.kilmoreartexpo.com.au
