Exciting range of work on display at EJ Mantova Memorial Art Competition at Bellingen Show Coffs Coast Nambucca Valley by News Of The Area - Modern Media - May 20, 2022 Bellingen Shire Mayor Steve Allen took a keen interest in all the works, and stopped to chat with Cynthia Miller about her work ‘A walk in the park’, runner up in the Sculpture category. POOR weather in the days leading up to the 2022 Bellingen Show saw the cancellation of many outdoor events, but the EJ Mantova Memorial Art Competition went ahead as planned, and while the sun didn’t shine as brightly as hoped, the standard of entries certainly lit up the pavilion. Coordinator Jackie Lee said, “After many years of organising the EJ Mantova Memorial Art Competition I never tire of seeing the diversity of artworks that are entered into the competition. “There is always a range of art-making techniques and subject matter. “Our region is full of the most amazingly creative people. “I am often asked which artwork is my favourite amongst the exhibition, but I have never been able to answer that question as there are always such interesting pieces.” Here’s a quick look at the winners with the judges’ comments. Marie Walker Memorial Watercolour Prize John Biggart – ‘Walker Gorge’. The artist has created an artwork that appears abstract. With further observation, the image reveals a landscape construct of colour and expressive line. The essence of the land is captured without unnecessary detail. Open – any subject/medium Polly Wells – ‘Gum Blossom and Kangaroo Paws’ The artist has the power of depicting the details of an object with refined accuracy and sensitivity to surface; both the paint’s surface and the object’s surface. There is a deep knowledge of colour theory. 3D/Sculpture John Tuckwell – ‘Tear a bit more off’ The artist has a deep understanding of the material used in this artwork. The sculpture has a fragility that is unexpected. The surface decoration is refined. The object is playful: a tower of balanced, intricate and entangled building blocks, reliant on each other. Drawing – any subject/medium Tamaryn Frauenstein – ‘Drawing 66’ The artist has used imagination and intuitive thinking as a source of creativity. Look and see how the intensity of line and placement of line and the repetition of line can addictively pull you into the image. The viewer’s eye constantly moves around on a voyage of discovery. A surprise package that challenges the perception of drawing. By Susan KONTIC NEWS_ EJ Mantova Memorial _SK_PY4 Polly Wells’ ‘Gum Blossom and Kangaroo Paws’. NEWS_ EJ Mantova Memorial _SK_PY5 John Tuckwell’s ‘Tear a bit more off’. NEWS_ EJ Mantova Memorial _SK_PY3 John Biggart’s ‘Walker Gorge’. NEWS_ EJ Mantova Memorial _SK_PY2 Jackie Lee, art coordinator, takes a closer look at Robert Bice’s ‘Portrait of a woman’, runner up in the Drawing – any subject/medium category. NEWS_ EJ Mantova Memorial _SK_PY6 Tamaryn Frauenstein’s ‘Drawing 66’.
