Wednesday 9 December 2020

West Torrens Art Prize 2020

 2020 has certainly been a difficult year with the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in the cancellation of many anticipated visual arts events. However, one of the few major art competitions that continued to somehow find a way through the difficulties was the West Torrens Art Prize. 

This years exhibition explored the theme of 'a sustainable future', which was particularly appropriate with the increased focus on the environment and the impact of mankind upon it. The finalist exhibition, which was held at the West Torrens Auditorium Gallery, revealed a wide variety of approaches to the theme and once again the standard was excellent.

I was certainly very pleased to included as a finalist, but even more delighted to be announced as the overall winner of the 2020 prize with my piece 'Solar Reflections'.

The painting evolved from a memory of flying into Adelaide over the rooftops of Torrensville and observing the increased emergence of solar panels across the various buildings in the area . What eventually emerged was a stylised yet reflective self-portrait set on top of a traditional bungalow, with a panoramic view across local suburbs with the city centre in the distance. My aim was to somehow convey a sense of recognition of the past, while expressing hope for the possibilities of a more sustainable future.


                                                    presentation of the award by West Torrens Mayor Michael Coxon



Friday 28 August 2020

Welcome to Vineland

 It has now been 12 months since the opening of 'Studio Meadows' Gallery and it has certainly provided me with an exciting, interesting, satisfying and challenging year. Thank you to all those who took the time to search me out, both locals and visitors to the Clare Valley. I have met some wonderful people who all have been extremely supportive and encouraging. Of course no one could have predicted the emergence of COVID-19 and the impact it would have on all small businesses, but we have remained positive with the thought that some sort of normality would eventually resume. Thankfully we are open once again and the visitors are returning.

For me a 12 week shut down resulted in some some serious painting time with the aim of putting together a themed exhibition for the 2020 SALA (South Australian Living Artist) Festival, even though it wasn't definite that the event would actually go ahead. The aim was to visually reflect upon the grape growing environment in which I live. I sought to capture the beauty of this place, but also the the daily reality and the industrial process of the vineyard in an exhibition I titled 'Vineland'. 

The exhibition is open throughout August, but I certainly would welcome visitors to the gallery throughout the year ... just visit www.studiomeadows.com for details.