Winner Painting any medium 2009
Red dust against sun-bleached walls 2009 Jaime Prosser
Oil on canvas

The 2009 Awards Presentation evening was held at the Outback Regional Gallery in Winton on Sunday 3 May, in conjunction with the arrival of the Q150 Steam Train in Winton. Major sponsor, Ergon Energy, was represented by Paul Ryan, General Manager Operations Northern, North West Qld, who officially opened the exhibition and confirmed Ergon's commitment to the Winton community through their partnership in the Art Show.

Judge Dr Anneke Silver from James Cook University, congratulated artists on the quality of work selected for the exhibition, and encouraged the commitment of the Winton community in their support of the arts.

Section 1. Painting any medium

A South Australian entry, Red dust against sun-bleached walls , was selected as the major prizewinner, with the judge describing the work as ".... a painting full of restrained passion and immaculate execution. I love its minimalism, its abstraction in representation.... almost casual placement of the main subject: the huge empty landscape ...."
Second placing went to Coonaberry Creek cross-section ".a lyrical essay about the northern landscape.... Her powers of observation of the curves and branches, the negative spaces in between, the foliage’s rhythms of light and dark, and the fluidity of her brushwork are superb..".
Third placing to The land we live in   "...a moody passion, without being melodramatic. It is well executed, tonally well handled .. lyrical and dark without being gloomy."

Highly Commended entries were Who said she wouldn't be a ballet dancer? "..a wacky, edgy sense of fun, but at the same time expresses profound aspects of outback life", Summer storm ". reducing the landscape to the interaction of just two fields of colour: the inky rain-laden sky and deep earth coloured ground..", The past has a future    "... an exquisitely skilful pastel drawing, full of expression and overt passion....", Changing landscape "..intriguing because of the way it integrates different visual vocabularies.."

First:     Red dust against sun-bleached walls (oil on canvas) Jaime Prosser Keith SA.
Second:     Coonaberry Creek cross-section (pigment & found ochre on canvas) Annabel Tully Quilpie Qld.
Third:     The land we live in (black & white charcoal) Stephen Gowing Longreach Qld.

Highly Commended:
Who said she wouldn't be a ballet dancer? (oil on canvas) Norah Kersh Townsville Qld.
Summer storm (pastel on paper) Trish Callaghan Murwillumbah NSW.
The past has a future (pastel on paper) Lisa Wallace Richmond Qld.
Changing landscape (acrylic, pencil on canvas) Amy Suttie Bellthorpe Qld.


Section 2. Three dimensional works

The judge commented on the diversity of three dimensional entries, with works in ceramics, textiles, metal and glass.

A Mount Isa entry, Bower - life's treasurers, received the major award, with the judge describing the work as "...outstanding because of its freshness and well rendered form of a bowerbird nest...humorous and the whole work has presence..."'
Second placing went to Sundown - Landline series   "...exquisitely crafted vessel.....the sensuous large lip an oblique reference to wide open landscapes. ".
Third placing was Living creatures come and go     "...a scroll style quilt is reminiscent of tradition oriental landscape work and its theme reflects a Tao-ish acceptance of the natural cycle. "

Highly Commended entries were My little pieces of the Outback   "small ceramic cushions inspired by outback ground..", and It should be constitutional   "narrative details are tongue in cheek.....
taking thematic risk ...which I am sure is well appreciated by all of us who ‘know‘ the outback dunny."

Section 2. Three dimensional works

First:     Bower - life's treasurers (wire, wire mesh, found objects) Rowena Paine-Murphy Mt.Isa Qld.
Second:     Sundown- Landline series (raku clay, southern ice porcelain)   Megan Puls Nerang Qld.
Third:     Living creatures come and go (textile wall hanging) Kerryn Taylor Katherine NT

Highly Commended:
My little pieces of the Outback (clay, 4 pcs) Carol Forster Mons Qld.
It should be constitutional (textile art quilt) Trish Alcorn Winton Qld.

Celebrity Prize:

They are the future (oil on canvas board) Keith Blake Mapleton Qld.

The People's Choice Award will be announced at the close of the exhibition.

54 works, selected from 79 entries representing the theme 'Embracing the Outback - Past and Future', were presented for the awards. The exhibition is supported by Ergon Energy, Winton Shire Council, Arts Qld through the Regional Arts Development Fund, and the Waltzing Matilda Centre, and will be on display until 26 June 2009.




Highlights from the Shire Collection
03/05/2009 to 15/07/2009

Seven works from the Winton Shire Collection are featured in this Foyer exhibition.
Fiona Lake's ethereal photograph Dusty sunset yardup contrasts sharply with the young no-nonsense subject of Heather Moore's oil Hurry up! we have work to do. History is recalled both in Sally Ogg's Waltzing Matilda tryptich in natural ochres and charcoal from the Winton earth, and Heather Wehl's The Winton Station, a sepia-toned interpretation of the historic Winton railway station. Elizabeth Duguid's Fire at Hunchy burns on the wall, watched by Christopher Trotter's inquisitive Native life, and Evan Horne's weary Well weathered worker.

Winner Three dimensional works 2009
Bower - life's treasurers 2008 Rowena Paine-Murphy
Wire, wire mesh, found objects

Highly Commended 2009
Who said she wouldn't be a ballet dancer? 2008 Norah Kersh
oil on canvas