Once again the artists of Gippsland responded wonderfully to our competition and we had even more entries than last year. Below are some photos of the gallery team considering how best to hang all these wonderful works.
The first day ... Friday 21st January ... Life Aquatic 2 begins ...
In the centre of the gallery space, setting off the canvases on the walls and with a distinctly marine and coastal theme are twenty-four delicate and intriguing sculptures by Sharon Monk.
Sunday 23rd January ... And the winners are ...
Our three judges were Susan Storm, Andrea McCallum and Sian Adnam who said they had a really difficult job deciding which of all the fantastic entries should win prizes. It apparently took them hours to make their decisions.
The opening event was very well attended. Nobody did a head count but a guess of 200 people was made. We calculated by the number of sausages ordered and consumed, which was double the number eaten last year (yes, I know, maybe we just ate more ...). The BBQ, ably presided over by Catherine McGlead (and her mum Noleen) and Windy Ridge's wine stall were just as popular as last year's event. Foot-tapping music was provided by local group The Tilders which created a festive atmosphere. There was hardly room to move in the gallery as people squeezed in to look at the competition entries and the beautiful work of Sharon Monk.
Ned Dennis, Heather Downing and judge Andrea McCallum
Heather Downing, President of the gallery committee thanked all the sponsors for their generosity and especially thanked the hard-working volunteers. Ned Dennis, Community Strengthening Co-ordinator with South Gippsland Shire Council formally opened the exhibition and spoke briefly about the advantages all round for a community such as ours, when businesses sponsor an arts event, which encourages people from all walks of life to flex their creative muscles and enter the competition, so joining the broad community of artists in this district. Visitors come to see the results (and eat the food, drink the wine, enjoy the music, buy the art (hopefully) and make new friends) while the sponsors receive benefit from the extra exposure. Thus all elements of the community are involved in a happily circular spread of benefits.
And now the important part ... the winners are as follows:
The Grand Prize was awarded to Janette Arnold-Collins for her two-canvas work titled "Mermaid's Garden".
Janette won $500 cash.
Mermaid's Garden by Janette Arnold-Collins
First Prize for a 2D work was awarded to Alvina Bishop-Edwards for "At Sea". She won $150 in cash and a gift voucher to the value of $100 from Morwell Art & Framing.
Neither Janette nor Alvina (who were both part of the vibrant exhibition, Allowance Give, Before A Sleeping Giant, held at the gallery just prior to Life Aquatic) were able to attend Sunday's event to receive their awards personally.
At Sea by Alvina Bishop-Edwards
First Prize for a 3D work was won by
Ross West for his work "Snorkel and Goggles". Ross received $150 cash and a gift voucher to the value of $100 from Morwell Art & Framing.
 
Ross West receiving his Life Aquatic certificate from guest speaker, Ned Dennis and with his winning entry.
Tessy Amesreiter was Highly Commended for her canvas Beach is Life. Tessy wins a Grand Ridge Brewery Beer selection and a gift voucher to the value of $40 from Dalliance Chocolate Shop in Mirboo North.
Tessy with her winning entry Beach is Life
Each judge selected an entry for the Judges' Awards. The Judge's Prizes were as follows:
Susan Storm awarded her prize to "Out of the Water, NOW!" by Elisabeth Williams. Elisabeth won a combined voucher from Foster Golf Club and OK PizzaPasta to the value of $100.
Andrea McCallum awarded her prize to "Where I've Been, What I've Seen" by Chris Beehag. Chris won dinner for two at the Exchange Hotel to the value of $100.
Sian Adnam's prize went to "Mermaid's Garden" by Janette Arnold-Collins. Janette, who also won the Grand Prize (see picture above), won dinner for two at the The Wild Fish Restaurant at Port Albert.
Out of the Water, NOW! by Elisabeth Williams
  
Judge Andrea McCallum congratulates Chris Beehag on her win, and Chris with her Life Aquatic certificate in front of her winning canvas Where I've Been, What I've Seen
This year there were no entries by students of Secondary School Age so no winner of the Bombora Prize.
The Minnows Prize (for a child of Primary School age) was won by Hayley Wight for her canvas "Under Waratah Bay". Hayley won an art pack from Artzillery of Leongatha.
  
Hayley Wight receives her certificate and prize from Renee Carmody of Artzillery. Right, Hayley with her winning entry Under Waratah Bay.
And last but not least ... The Hanger's Prize. Gallery volunteers, Craig Smith, Peter Lorkin and Jan Gallacher, who hung the exhibition and made it look truly spectacular, loved the work of Kate Remfrey. They said it made them smile every time they saw it. Kate won a gift voucher from Morwell Art & Framing to the value of $50 for her work "Don't Let Nooramunga Become a Myth". Kate Remfrey was not able to receive her award in person.
 
Don't Let Nooramunga Become a Myth by Kate Renfrey and the 'hangers' Craig, Peter and Jan.
And a good time was had by all!
 
 
 
 
 
 
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