Sunshine Coast artist Cynthia House continues to be a crowd favourite in the Gympie art scene, winning the People’s Choice Award at the Mary Valley Art Festival for the second year running.
Her trademark hybrid style of abstraction and realism in depicting a snow leopard won people’s hearts, giving her the slightest edge on her fellow competitors to collect the Masondale-sponsored prize. The artwork was titled On the edge of existence. Her 2024 People’s Choice Award was presented for her mixed media painting of dingoes titled The Outsiders – Australian dingo.
Another previous award winner Karen Roberts received the Best in Show Award for her 3D sculpture titled It’s how the light gets in. Its unexpected combination of elements fascinated judges Dr Lisa Chandler from UniUSC, and teacher and natural history artist Jim Cox. The $2000 prize was sponsored by RJR Property.
The artist also won the 3D section with her sculpture titled Magnolias empire.
Gympie’s Bendigo Bank $1500 award for the Open winner was presented to Alesha Cox for her stunning painting titled Keeper of the shadows. Judges said it demonstrated great luminosity, colour, composition and design.
Fraser Coast artist Wendy Talbot won the first prize in the Abstract section with her cold wax artwork titled It was written. She was also equal highly commended for her entry in the Open section with her piece titled Walking around in circles. Judges said it was highly accomplished with strong movement. They also presented a highly commended award to Chris O’Hare for his quirky entry Ram, which demonstrated bold and delightful patterning.
Novice winner Vanessa Sternberg says she only started painting a couple of months ago. She won $500 for her entry Sudden impact which the judges said was highly original and unexpected, demonstrating tension in the subject matter and a confident use of different techniques. She was also highly commended for her abstract work Broken chains.
The annual festival is hosted by Mary Valley Artslink, with more than $10,000 in prizes. President Heinke Butt said the quality of the 270+ entries this year continued to improve on the previous year. Sales and attendance were strong over the weekend.
Results: Youth – 1 The Same Shop by Charla Bloom, 2 Girl in the gallery by Lacey Pohle, equal 3 My Sister by Samantha Andrews and Maddie by Maddie Atkinson; Abstract – 1 It was written by Wendy Talbot, HC Broken chains by Vanessa Sternberg; Drawing – 1 The streets of Queenstown by Jo Williams, HC Hoodie in contemplation by Lorelle Murray; Human form and portraiture – 1 The muse by Jazmin Adams, HC The determined one by Jan Lawnikanis; Flora and still life – 1 Tastes like colour by Sharon Bunter, HC Dahlia by Robyn Dean; Animalia – 1 Pelican brief by Katrina O’Shannessy, equal HC Ee-Aww by Sally Fisher and Tortoise by Lyn Nothdurft; Novice – 1 Sudden impact by Vanessa Sternberg, equal HC Hasting Street buzz by Barbara Mills and Secret garden by Gayle Lockey; Landscape – 1 The sound broke the silence of heart by Yeats Gruin, HC Kandanga Creek by Lizzie Connor; 3D – 1 Magnolias empire by Karen Roberts, HC Liberia by Lisa Timms Stevens; Open – 1 Keeper of the shadows by Alesha Cox, equal HC Walking around in circles by Wendy Talbot and Ram by Chris O’Hare; Best in show – It’s how the light gets in – Karen Roberts; People’s Choice – On the edge of existence by Cynthia House.
