Scone Art to be Proud Of

OFTEN people are left wondering why one piece of art is awarded over another, but at the opening of the Scone Art Prize on Friday night, Anne McLaughlin from the Maitland Regional Art Gallery took the audience on a tour of the art works and explained her decisions in detail.

“I think it is only fair that people know why on earth they came to that decision,” laughed Ms McLaughlin.

“It’s like part of the contract between artist, judge and art gallery, it should be an even relationship not a power relationship it is, about sharing and I think it is only reasonable to explain why you have chosen something; I want to engage with people about it,” she said.

Anne McLaughlin taking the audience through her decisions for the winners of the Scone Art Prize. Photo: Roger Skinner Photography.

It was the first time Ms McLaughlin had visited the Scone Art Prize, she said the community involvement in art was great to see and she encourages more people in the local community to try their hand at art.

“There is so much art activity in the community and you want to support it,” she said.

“There is a lot of energy and a lot of workshops being held here, so it is all supporting that art culture which is so important.

“This is the bedrock of where art happens out in the community and it’s really good to see what people are doing and engage with it,” she said.

“A gallery shouldn’t be separate from the community it should be part of the community,” she said.

“Don’t think someone else can do it and I can’t do it, don’t think I’ve got to draw, no you don’t you can do anything,” she said.

“It gives you time to think about your place in the world, it helps you make sense of the world, it feeds your inner being which is really important and it doesn’t matter what it is if it is driving nails into a piece of wood or anything, self-expression is so good and gives us a sense of well-being,” Anne McLaughlin said.

The winner of the open section for the Bobby Paradice Prize was Graham Cox for his painting Stormy Pastoral.

SEE THE EXHIBITION: When: It is open every day between 10am and 4pm until Saturday, September 16 with the final day Sunday, September 17 where it is open until 1pm. Where: Scone Arts and Crafts Hall, Kingdon Street, Scone. Cost: gold coin donation.

The full list of winners and highly commended are as follows:

Winners:

• Section 1 Open Graham Cox Stormy Pastoral
• Section 2 Figurative/Portraiture Madeleine Szymanski Winter Beach
• Section 3 Watercolour Kay McFarlane Smith All About the Light
• Section 4 Print Drawing Fran Wachtel Log Jam
• Section 5 Miniature Susan Joyce Winter Days Macquarie River
• Section 6 Pastel Sandra Walker Outback Rock Formation
• Section 7 Local Sue Adams Scarf Knitter
• Section 8 Ceramics/Sculpture Paul Adams Chun Jar

Highly Commended:

• Section 1 Open Charlotte Drake-Brockman Boat
• Section 1 Open Eugenia Dunlevie High Aspect View, Cornwall
• Section 2 Figurative/Portraiture Norma Johnston Old Salt
• Section 3 Watercolour Noeline Millar Happy Hour Plein Air
• Section 3 Watercolour Pat Winter Sunset
• Section 4 Print Drawing Marie Lunney Daybreak
• Section 5 Miniature Betty Lambley Wetlands at Dusk
• Section 6 Pastel Colina Grant Time and Tide
• Section 7 Local Charlotte Drake Brockman Other Peoples Devils
• Section 8 Ceramics Sculpture Will Maguire Busy Gardener