Jenny Peterson - Judge’s Comments
As a regional artist based in Boolarra I respond to rural themes and I enjoy the beauty of the beach over the summer months when camping at Shallow Inlet. On my way to judge the Philip Island Arts Society’s exhibition I had the expectation that I would encounter seascapes and rural scenes – I was not disappointed - and there was a wide variety of other subjects too.
When scrutinising each work in the exhibition I was looking for evidence of technical skill by the handling of the medium, some intelligence about the choices made and some heart - something of the artist’s own humanity. These three things ‘head, heart and hand’ bring the whole artist to us and provide a more satisfying experience for the viewer. The artworks selected as prize winners have these holistic qualities.
Most of us look very quickly at art works when visiting a gallery, spending only seconds on some of them. With the winning works and the 6 Highly Commended entries there was something about them that held me longer. I wanted to explore them further.
Prize winners:
Best of Show
Pauline Grotto “Bright Outlook’’
This contemporary landscape/seascape painting works from a distance and close up (I urge you to look closer). Up close up you see the textures, the layers and the detail that Pauline has included. Overall there is skilful handling of paint and excellent composition and movement. There is a local story here – one to be deciphered by the viewer.
Best Photograph
Phyllis Brereton “Sink or Swim’’
Initially a casual snap of some ducks with their backs turned to us amongst a gathering of boats on water. Yet the way the boats are grouped and the other parts of the scene (grasses, nesting box) is interesting with its mixture of nature and man made objects co-existing in the frame. The water in the photo gives us not only reflections but another depth provided by the submerged boat.
Jenny Jackson “Silverleaves Beach’’
This watercolour has a loose and open style, the composition excellent with the way your eye travels from the figures to the seagulls to the rocks in the foreground and back again on a meandering journey across the sunlit paper.
Lois Green “Lidded Box’’
Beautifully designed and executed. This small wooden piece is a turned container which becomes a floating object balanced on fretwork ‘hands’ which describe the delicacy of leaves.
Isabella “My Beach’’
Great composition, gesture and variety of mark – this could only be an oil painting on canvas. Terrific technique and no fuss about the detail.
John Adam “Ups and Downs’’
An abstract jumbled-up snakes and ladders game reflects the chaos of our contemporary life and yet the textured surface reflects another story going on underneath this colourful, frantic surface.
Highly Commended
Ashlee Lambton, Keith Steward, Lyn Hahn, Marian Quigley, Libby Skidmore and Hayley Justice.