Galleries in the Gardens opens summer ‘Happy Days’ show Myall Coast Myall Coast - popup ad Myall Coast News Photo Gallery by News Of The Area - Modern Media - January 18, 2024 Another busy, successful show at The Gallery in Tea Gardens. ‘HAPPY Days’ came for the Galleries in the Gardens (GiG) members at The Gallery on Marine Drive, Tea Gardens, with the official opening of the 16th annual ‘Cool Summer Exhibition’ on Friday 12 January. The local member-based, non-for-profit ‘GiG’ community art group have laboured with love to create new works, now on display amongst some older favourites, all having undergone standards vetting by the GiG Curatorial Committee. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au Two guest judges, Lynda Gibbins and Jill Orr, each practising artists with many years of exhibitions and awards behind them, were invited to undertake the manifold task of choosing three awards covering three-dimensional and two-dimensional media. “When judging artwork, I look for a bit of danger in the work, it’s so good to be a risk taker, and I’m enamoured by work that is intentional – I want to know you meant it,” Ms Gibbins explained her process with the 3D awards. The 3D Winner was David Mathieson’s ‘Life is but a Dream’, based on a posed photo of his six-year-old grandson. Ms Gibbons described the piece as “a mastery of the medium”. “(It is) the work’s energy, the artistic courage demonstrated and its originality that makes the work vibrant and alive,” according to Ms Gibbins. Two ‘Highly Commended’ awards were given in the 3D category – Chez Rands’ ‘A Happy Puppy’, whose “wriggling joy is palpable”, and Lee Anderson’s ‘Happy Days’ jewellery, with judges celebrating the “effortless, wearable, muted palette that combined small artworks with seeds and effortlessly pulled it off”. The 2D ‘Works on Paper’ category winner was Emilie Tseronis’ ‘Imps and Dryads’. “Totally embracing, accurate, it has a generosity… makes you feel something,” said Ms Orr. Highly Commended in the category was Helen Sillar’s ‘Barnes Rock’, described as having “a lovely balance of light and dark to create that movement”. The 2D ‘Works on Canvas’ category winner was Sylvia Reczek’s ‘Grandma’s Back Verandah’ that “symbolises the feeling I had when I arrived here to judge, a beautiful balance of shape and colour”. Colleen MacSween’s ‘Bush Stone Curlew’ (acrylic) was Highly Commended. “Enjoy those little bird feet curled up almost in anguish at being caught out, the powerful shadow equals the threat we pose on its survival.” As both judges and all attendees roundly agreed, the standard of the GiG is very high, and only seems to rise with each exhibition. The Cool Summer exhibition ends 5 February, with the WINC raffle drawn that day, too. By Thomas O’KEEFE Judge Lynda Gibbins expounds on her decisions in the 3D works category, with Emilie Tseronis. 2D Winner (Works on Paper): Emilie Tseronis’ ‘Imps and Dryads’, ink drawing. 3D Highly Commended – 3D: Chez Rands’ ‘A Happy Puppy’, ceramic. 2D Highly Commended: Helen Sillar’s ‘Barnes Rock’, linocut print. David Mathieson, Chez Rands, Sylvia Reczek, Emilie Tseronis, judge Lynda Gibbins, Lee Anderson, and Colleen MacSween. 2D Winner (Works on Canvas): Sylvia Reczek’s ‘Grandma’s Back Verandah’, acrylic. 2D Highly Commended (Works on Canvas): Colleen MacSween’s ‘Bush Stone Curlew’, acrylic. 3D Winner: David Mathieson’s ‘Life is but a Dream’, ceramic. 3D Highly Commended: Lee Anderson’s ‘Happy Days’ jewellery. 2D Judge Jill Orr taking in all the entries.
