Narrabri-based artist Nancy Hunt has won the PRO HART PRIZE FOR HANGING ART in the 2016 Art Unlimited competition held at Dunedoo.
Nancy Hunt was awarded the $3000 prize for an acrylic on canvas titled “Night Romp” that judge John Firth-Smith described as "dynamic and energetic". Firth-Smith, one of Australia’s most celebrated abstract painters, went on to say “After looking at the variety of all the work closely over and over, I was drawn repeatedly to Nancy Hunt’s “Night Romp’. Its fleeting images of horses had a spontaneity - not overworked, but boldly executed with a freshness of colour.”
Nancy Hunt’s work was chosen from 275 entries in the competition’s Hanging Art category. The $3000 prize is donated each year by Raylee Hart, widow of iconic outback painter Pro Hart, in memory of her husband who was committed to making art accessible to people in regional Australia.
Nancy has worked as a professional mixed media artist for more than 20 years, with work including collages, ink drawings, paintings and metal sculptures. Much of her work is inspired by her love of horses. Her grandfather and father both bred thoroughbred racehorses, while her brother breeds stock horses. Nancy herself has, over the years, competed in camp drafting and other equestrian events. A large body of her work reflects on horses and the part they have played in her life. Life in the bush and outback landscapes also feature in her work, which is represented in many regional galleries.
THE $3000 ART UNLIMITED PHOTOGRAPHY PRIZE was awarded to Mal Carnegie of West Wyalong for his compelling image of a dry cracked lake bed covered with dead carp, titled “The Last Drop”. Photography judge Mervyn Bishop chose it from 126 entries and described it as “a dramatic, technically excellent composition conveying a relevant and powerful message.”
THE $3000 ART UNLIMITED CERAMICS PRIZE was won by Geoff Thomas from Gilgandra for his work titled “Jar”. Ceramics judge Kaye Rice described the work as “a finely-tuned enjoyment of the ceramic tradition". Kaye commented: "What drew me to the large wood-fired jar was the strong form and yet gentle glow of the ash residue on the surface of the clay. It emanated a warmth of character, along with technical skill."
Other winners in Art Unlimited 2016 were:
FAIRVIEW ARTSPACE PRIZE – Prue Cullen, Coonamble NSW “Pods” (set of three ceramic works)
ORANA ARTS INDIGENOUS ARTIST PRIZE – Kevin Welsh, Coonamble NSW “Wailwaan Eagle Man” (ceramic work)
ABC WESTERN PLAINS PRIZE – Helen Akerstrom, Dubbo NSW “Rosa Blades” (photographic work)
JANACE HOLMES FAMILY MEMORIAL PRIZE – Ted Lewis, Orange NSW “Gums Through the Mist” (landscape oil on canvas)
Highly Commended:
Hanging Art –
Dennis Claydon, Orange NSW “Newtown”
Denise Lithgow, Leichhardt NSW “Bend in the River”
Graham Cox, Louth Park NSW “Ramparts of the Wollemi”
Photography –
Jeff Stockton, Bathurst NSW “Giving Way”
Eva Schroeder, Ngunnwal ACT “A Stitch in Time”
Natalie Ghigglioli, Cassilis NSW “Coolah Street Parade”
Ceramics –
Greg Daly, Cowra NSW “Morning Light”
John Tuckwell, Bellingen NSW “Just One Step Back”
Kevin Welsh, Coonamble NSW “Wailwaan Eagle Man”
THE ART UNLIMITED EXHIBITION WILL CONTINUE UNTIL SUNDAY 29 MAY.
WEEKDAYS: 1.30PM-4.30PM; SATURDAY AND SUNDAY 9AM-4PM.
Nancy Hunt was awarded the $3000 prize for an acrylic on canvas titled “Night Romp” that judge John Firth-Smith described as "dynamic and energetic". Firth-Smith, one of Australia’s most celebrated abstract painters, went on to say “After looking at the variety of all the work closely over and over, I was drawn repeatedly to Nancy Hunt’s “Night Romp’. Its fleeting images of horses had a spontaneity - not overworked, but boldly executed with a freshness of colour.”
Nancy Hunt’s work was chosen from 275 entries in the competition’s Hanging Art category. The $3000 prize is donated each year by Raylee Hart, widow of iconic outback painter Pro Hart, in memory of her husband who was committed to making art accessible to people in regional Australia.
Nancy has worked as a professional mixed media artist for more than 20 years, with work including collages, ink drawings, paintings and metal sculptures. Much of her work is inspired by her love of horses. Her grandfather and father both bred thoroughbred racehorses, while her brother breeds stock horses. Nancy herself has, over the years, competed in camp drafting and other equestrian events. A large body of her work reflects on horses and the part they have played in her life. Life in the bush and outback landscapes also feature in her work, which is represented in many regional galleries.
THE $3000 ART UNLIMITED PHOTOGRAPHY PRIZE was awarded to Mal Carnegie of West Wyalong for his compelling image of a dry cracked lake bed covered with dead carp, titled “The Last Drop”. Photography judge Mervyn Bishop chose it from 126 entries and described it as “a dramatic, technically excellent composition conveying a relevant and powerful message.”
THE $3000 ART UNLIMITED CERAMICS PRIZE was won by Geoff Thomas from Gilgandra for his work titled “Jar”. Ceramics judge Kaye Rice described the work as “a finely-tuned enjoyment of the ceramic tradition". Kaye commented: "What drew me to the large wood-fired jar was the strong form and yet gentle glow of the ash residue on the surface of the clay. It emanated a warmth of character, along with technical skill."
Other winners in Art Unlimited 2016 were:
FAIRVIEW ARTSPACE PRIZE – Prue Cullen, Coonamble NSW “Pods” (set of three ceramic works)
ORANA ARTS INDIGENOUS ARTIST PRIZE – Kevin Welsh, Coonamble NSW “Wailwaan Eagle Man” (ceramic work)
ABC WESTERN PLAINS PRIZE – Helen Akerstrom, Dubbo NSW “Rosa Blades” (photographic work)
JANACE HOLMES FAMILY MEMORIAL PRIZE – Ted Lewis, Orange NSW “Gums Through the Mist” (landscape oil on canvas)
Highly Commended:
Hanging Art –
Dennis Claydon, Orange NSW “Newtown”
Denise Lithgow, Leichhardt NSW “Bend in the River”
Graham Cox, Louth Park NSW “Ramparts of the Wollemi”
Photography –
Jeff Stockton, Bathurst NSW “Giving Way”
Eva Schroeder, Ngunnwal ACT “A Stitch in Time”
Natalie Ghigglioli, Cassilis NSW “Coolah Street Parade”
Ceramics –
Greg Daly, Cowra NSW “Morning Light”
John Tuckwell, Bellingen NSW “Just One Step Back”
Kevin Welsh, Coonamble NSW “Wailwaan Eagle Man”
THE ART UNLIMITED EXHIBITION WILL CONTINUE UNTIL SUNDAY 29 MAY.
WEEKDAYS: 1.30PM-4.30PM; SATURDAY AND SUNDAY 9AM-4PM.
RSS Feed