Rockingham's Art Awards winners announced

Winners of the City of Rockingham’s second Art Awards were announced at the opening of the exhibition at Gary Holland Community Centre in Rockingham on Saturday.

Sixty-eight finalists were selected from more than 300 entries, submitted under six categories including Emerging, Heritage, Open, Local Residents, Indigenous and the Robert Carter Youth Award. 

Curator Lyn DiCiero said the selection process was difficult.

"We looked for works which were resolved, proficient and technically excellent, with all styles from abstract to realism considered,” she said.

Mayor Barry Sammels said the awards help provide residents with arts and cultural opportunities.

“The Art Awards encourage artists to put their natural talents to use, to give them the opportunity to display their works and provide them with a pathway to establish themselves in the art world,” Mayor Sammels said.

“On behalf of the City, I would like to congratulate all those who entered the award this year, and thank you all for the artistic contributions of this highly gifted sector of our community."

Nedlands-based artist Rowena Keall Walsh was the winner of the major $5000 Open Acquisitive Award and said she was very pleased to win with a work featuring the view from a friend’s shack at Point Peron, created especially for the awards. 

“In 2015, when my friends asked me to paint the view from their shack at Point Peron, I became aware of the development planned for the area,” she said.

“It became the subject of my solo exhibition at UWA’s Cullity Gallery in November last year. I visited Point Peron on and off for a year in preparation for the show, so I feel I have a close connection to the Rockingham area.”  

Keall Walsh studied at Claremont School of Art and has exhibited around the State since 2001.

Her commissions include the Perth Airport and the 5-star Galaxy Casino Hotel in Macau, China.

She was the major winner of the City of Wanneroo Art Awards in 2013.

The finalists are on display at both the Gary Holland Community Centre and the Rockingham Arts Centre until May 20, with many of the works for sale.

Visitors are encouraged to vote for their favourite artwork to be in the running to win $250.

2017 Winners List

Robert Carter Youth Award $1500: It’s All Too Much by Amberley Matray.

Local Resident Award $1500: New Beginnings by Vanessa Liebenberg.

Emerging Award: $2500 for an artist who has practised their art continuously for less than five years: Girl with a Pomegranate by Gemma Mangano.

Heritage Award: $4000 for the work that best captures the history, heritage or cultural significance of the Rockingham region: Seaforth McKenzie’s Cave by Michael Doherty. 

Indigenous Award: $4000 acquisitive award: Untitled by Peter Dean Wally. 

Open Award: $5,000 acquisitive for an established artist in continuous public practice for over five years: Shack Community Dusk by Rowena Keall Walsh. This award represents the highest standard of works submitted to the Awards. 

The winning entry in the Open and Indigenous section will become part of the City’s art collection.