THE Ipswich Art Awards is one of the biggest events in Ipswich art circles and this year it attracted more than 400 artists.
This is nearly double the number the awards have showcased in previous years.
In fact, there were so many artists entered this year that the opening night had to be spilt into two events.
It was interesting to see that this year nearly half the artists were from outside the Ipswich region.
Artists who entered works had their own opening where the winners were announced.
Other patrons of the arts had a second event ‘Up Late’ the following night.
For all those who attended the opening night you could sense the excitement and apprehension while waiting for winners to be announced.
The Ipswich Art Awards have been running for 22 years, an annual event that has help kick start many Ipswich artist’s successful arts careers.
Some of these artists have gone onto gain international recognition.
Many have now had their work displayed at national and international galleries.
The Ipswich Art Awards Exhibition has a wide variety of art pieces created for the competition.
This year there were 570 pieces of artwork submitted across eight categories.
The exhibition is held in the Ipswich City Council offices in Tulmur Place.
This year the showcase of artworks had to be extended over two floors to fit them all in.
The venue allows for every entry in the Ipswich Art Awards, providing it meets guidelines and regardless of the ability of the artists, to be hung, judged, sold and displayed.
In past years approximately one quarter of the works on display in the Ipswich Art Awards were sold. The awards offer an opportunity to the community to see some of the most exciting and innovative work being produced by artists of our local area and artists are hoping this year with the bigger and better venue, sales will be achieving the same result.
Ipswich City Council employee Courtney Strow had the task of organising the Art Awards as well as the opening events, while the Ipswich Art Gallery staff had the task of curating the 570 artworks and I have to say, job well done to all involved.
The exhibition was beautifully hung and at such a professional level.
I applaud the council’s level of support, and I hope that the relationship between the arts community and the council will grow.
Art is the heart and soul of a community and should be valued as such and Courtney Strow understands the need to increase council’s level of support.
IPSWICH WINNERS:
- Painting (oil and Acrylic) – Jennifer Kent with ‘Before the Feast’
- Watercolour – Deb Mostert with ‘Owl as Object’
- Printmaking – David Turner with ‘Defunct’
- 3D – Rachel North with ‘Unwriting Landscape’
- Mix Media – Bonny Shore with ‘Reflections’
- New Media – Renee Yates with ‘West’
- Photography – Dane Beesley with ‘Balloon 100’
- Drawing – Emily Banwell with ‘Fairy Bread’
- Overall Best – Jessica Nothdurft with ‘House Dress’
