Media Contacts:
CALOUNDRA REGIONAL ART GALLERY
Marketing Coordinator
Helen Perry
Ph: 0431 065 964
E.mail: mailto:helencperry@bigpond.com
Gallery Director/Exhibition Manager
John Waldron
Ph: (07) 5420 8299
E.mail: mailto:j.waldron@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
SUNSHINE COAST REGIONAL COUNCIL
Corporate Communications
Claudia Di Blasi
ph:5420 8935 fax:5420 8985
E.mail: mailto:Claudia.DiBlasi@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
Corporate Communications
Kristy McPherson
Ph: 5420 8991 Fx: 5420 8985
E.mail: mailto:a.Kristy.McPherson@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
Media Releases
29 August 2008
2008 Art prize winner revealed
Brisbane based artist, Scott Redford, was last night announced the winner of the coveted Sunshine Coast Regional Council and Sajen legal, $20,000 Sunshine Coast Art Prize, to a record crowd at the Caloundra Regional Art Gallery. Sunshine Coast Council Mayor, Bob Abbott, said the calibre of artists who entered the competition and were selected to be one of the 40 finalists, was testament to the unbridled success of the art competition which is now in its third year. “I congratulate Scott on his win – it is hugely rewarding for this Council to be able to award artists for their passion and their talent,” Cr Abbot said. “The Sunshine Coast Art Prize is a signature cultural event on the coast which has again attracted a high quality art from across the nation. “I would like to thank both the wider community for their enthusiastic response to this prize and principal partner Sajen legal for their unwavering support.” The Prize this year was judged by Julie Ewington, Curatorial Manager of Australian Art at Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art. On her selection of the winning work Ewington said ‘Scott’s current painting has taken his familiar preoccupation with Queensland beach culture, and the beach as a myth-making place in Australia, to a new and curiously ecstatic place. He has fused abstract expressionist painting with blue sea-scape references. It’s as if the experience of painting is being conflated with the thrill of surfing inside a fine tube wave on a sunny day. The Reinhardt of the title might be the name of Redford’s mythical surfer, but it is also the name of the renowned American, Ad Reinhardt, great painter and great theorist of post-war art. In all of this, it’s clear that Scott is privileging culture here, now, in Queensland, on the coast. Current painting from here and now, taking its place in art history, on a world stage. Funky, passionate, quite gorgeous, I find Reinhardt’s Silver Instant Painting to be the award winner from a highly competitive field. And hope that successive visitors to the Gallery will enjoy it in the years to come. The winning work, titled Reinhardt's Silver Instant Painting, was chosen from works submitted by 400 artists from across the nation. 40 finalists were selected for the prize exhibition. Scott Redford received $15,000 and a four-week residency at Maleny to the value of $5,000. The following finalists were also recognized in the judging: The $2,000 Highly Commended Prize was awarded to Peter Alwast for his Clouds, oil on poly cotton painting. The judge described Peter as ‘an idiosyncratic multi-media artist whose distinctive vision is growing stronger with each year. His allusive, complex paintings, in dialogue with his animations, scope the skies above his native Gold Coast, while considering the life that unfolds beneath it.’ The $1,000 Commended Prize went to Bronek Kozka for There’s something about … . Judge Julie Ewington commented that ‘indeed there is something very strange other-worldly about this remarkable photograph. Rendered in the increasingly popular photographic and print media of inkjet printing, Bronek’s masterly There’s something about… appears at first glance to be a bleached and re-rendered image drawn from a pictorial publication of the 1950s or 1960s, perhaps one of the canonical mass-media magazines such as the one held by the ‘father’ figure in the image.’ The Sunshine Coast Art Prize exhibition runs until 5 October. The Caloundra Regional Art Gallery is open everyday during the Prize from 10am to 4pm and entry is free. Enquiries: (07) 5420 8299. ends Background information about SCAP SCAP is a national contemporary painting and 2D art prize presented by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council and principal partner Sajen legal. As an acquisitive prize, over time this initiative will build a significant art collection for the Sunshine Coast. The winner receives $15,000 plus a four week residency in Maleny on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland valued at $5,000. The non-acquisitive people’s choice prize valued at $2,500 is announced at the end of the exhibition. The prize is open to all Australian artists working in any 2D medium. The 40 finalist were chosen from 400 applicants submitted to the pre-selection panel. SCAP online SCAP Online is a new initiative that offers a virtual view of the exhibition. Anyone on the web can navigate through the exhibition and see the art works on the Gallery walls. They can even nominate their peoples choice and purchase a work. It is an exciting initiative. To experience it go to: http://www.scap.org.au/virtualscap/index.htm
May 2008
Finalists announced for prestigious art prize
The forty finalists in the prestigious Sunshine Coast Art Prize have been announced. Sunshine Coast Mayor Bob Abbot said the difficult task of selecting 40 artists from more than 400 applications has been completed. “Art lovers are now in for a real treat with an exhibition of the finalists’ entries to be shown at the Caloundra Regional Art Gallery from August 20,” Cr Abbot said. “This art prize is a significant cultural initiative for this region. It has seen the Sunshine Coast gain national recognition in the arts.’’ Caloundra Regional Art Gallery Director John Waldron said the selection includes an “exciting mix” of leading local and national emerging and established artists. “The artists are of an exceptionally high standard and the exhibition will feature painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed media and photography,” Mr Waldron said. “The partnership with the Sajen legal has resulted in a signature cultural event for Caloundra and the Sunshine Coast, and we look forward to the exhibition and official announcement on August 28,” Mr Waldron said. This year’s judge is Tony Ellwood, Director of the Queensland Art Gallery. Tony was Deputy Director of the National Gallery Victoria from 2000 and Director of the Bendigo Art Gallery from 1996 to 1999. This year’s winner will receive a $15,000 cash prize and a four-week residency in picturesque Maleny to the value of $5000. SCAP 08 40 Finalists Peter Alwast, QLD; Roderick Bunter, QLD; Evangeline Cachinero,QLD; Gabrielle Courtenay, NSW; Matt Coyle, TAS; James Culkin, NSW; Simon Cuthbert, TAS; David Fairbairn, NSW; Fiona Foley, QLD; Salvatore Gerardi, NSW; Jessica Geron, NSW; Michelle Hamer, VIC; Christopher Howlett, QLD; Ross Hucks, QLD; Peter Hudson, QLD;Todd Hunter, NSW, Jennie Jackson, QLD; Bronek Kozka, VIC; Lisa Lee, QLD; Blair McNamara, QLD; Pierre Mol, NSW; Deb Mostert, QLD; Michael Muir, NSW; Simon Obarzanek, VIC; Catherine O'Donnell, NSW; David Paulson, QLD; Jack Randell, NSW; Scott Redford, QLD; Julie Reeves, QLD, Marc and Gillie Schattner, NSW; Pamela See, QLD; Anke Stacker, NSW; Bob Stokic, QLD; Tanya Stubbles, NSW; Cameron Tauschke, VIC; Margaret Turner, QLD; Pam Walpole, QLD; Fiona White, NSW; Christine Willcocks, NSW; Dominique Wise-Jarvis, QLD.
January 2008
Entries sought for coveted art prize
Entries are now being called for the highly coveted Sunshine Coast Art Prize. Caloundra City Mayor Don Aldous said the $25,000 art prize, which includes $15,000 cash and a four week residency in Maleny, has risen to national prominence following the rapidly growing success of the competition. “Attracting over 500 entries in 2007, the Sunshine Coast Art Prize has very quickly established itself as a prestigious award for Australian artists,” Cr Aldous said. Last year’s winner, Brisbane based artist Tony Albert was selected from a field boasting some of Australia’s leading artists. Tony will undertake the winning artist residency in February and March. This year’s judge is Tony Ellwood, Director of the Queensland Art Gallery. Mr Ellwood is a highly respected museum director with a notable national and international reputation. The acquisitive prize is open to all Australian artists working in any 2D medium. A pre-selection committee will choose 40 artists to enter work for the prize, with their work to form part of an exhibition at the Caloundra Regional Art Gallery during August and September. The winner will be announced at the official opening of the exhibition, with the winning work becoming part of the Caloundra City collection. There is also a non-acquisitive people’s choice award valued at $2,500. The Sunshine Coast Art Prize is a Caloundra City Council cultural initiative with Principal partner Sajen Legal. Entries close on 30 March, and a $25 entry fee applies. For more details or to apply online go to www.scap.org.au.