A digital photo art work by Sunshine Beach artist Debbie Dodd received the inaugural Seeing the Soul Art Prize Major Prize for equine art at the exhibition opening attended by more than 150 guests on Friday 31 March at Cooroy Butter Factory Art Centre.
Category prize winners and runners-up, selected from more than 70 entries by 42 local, Queensland and interstate artists in the Seeing the Soul: Exhibition, announced by Judge Sandra Conte, freelance writer, curator, artist and former corporate creative in the GLAM (Galleries, Libraries and Museums) sector, were:
– Painting and Drawing Category Prize ($2500): Veronica (V) Spittles for Golden Hour (Mixed Media Pyrography).
– Painting and Drawing Category Runner-up Prize ($1000), sponsored by Laguna Pest Control : Julie Field for Unspoken (Charcoal & Gouache).
– Photography and Digital Category Prize ($2500): Debbie Dodd for Sooty, a digital painting of one of the Hoofbeats Sanctuary herd.
– Photography and Digital Category Runner-up Prize ($1000), sponsored by Cooroy RSL and Citizens Clubs: Cooper Brady for Carrying (photograph).
– Sculpture and 3D Category Prize ($2500): Colleen Lavender for Takoda (ribbon steel).
– Sculpture and 3D Category Runner-up Prize ($1000), sponsored by HinterNoosa: Donna Fisher for Not broken, breaking free (wire and concrete).
Seeing the Soul is a major fundraising initiative to support and promote Hoofbeats Sanctuary’s work by celebrating and showcasing equine art and raising awareness of mental health.
All artworks are for sale either by a fixed price or via a timed online auction which starts when the exhibition closes at 3pm on Sunday 30 April.
Also for sale by auction are ceramic horse statues decorated by cricket great Glenn McGrath, Australian music icon Russell Morris, local food identity Matt Golinski, leading multidisciplinary Indigenous artist Tony Albert, Creek to Coast host Scott Hillier and AFL legend and Indigenous artist Nicky Winmar.
Hoofbeats Sanctuary chief executive officer, Barb Blaski expressed her enormous gratitude to the judging panel.
“What an impossibly difficult task they were presented with in having to choose between so many stunning artworks – the number and quality of entries was way beyond anything we could have hoped for,” Ms Blaski said.
“Congratulations to all our prize winners – especially Debbie for taking away the major prize. And good luck to all our amazing artists for the People’s Choice Award, sponsored by Sunshine Coast award-winning entrepreneur and speaker Natasha Coughlan, which will be announced at the close of the exhibition.
“We’re encouraging everyone to visit the exhibition during the next four weeks and cast their vote for their favourite artwork.“
Steve Clarke, branch manager, Bendigo Community Bank Cooroy said he was just blown away by the technical skill and creativity shown and impact these pieces have.
“While I am far from qualified as a judge to say one piece is better than another, my vote for the major prize was based on the piece that I personally connected with the most,“ Mr Clarke said.
Two workshops are also being offered by participating artists: Karen Osborn on Drawing the Equine, Sunday 2 April and Lizzie Connor on Pen and Wash, Sunday 9 April. Visit the Butter Factory website to book.
Artist Talks will be presented by Lizzie Connor and Michelle Mann at 11am on Wednesday 5 April; and Karen Osborn and Terri Trivett, at 11am on Wednesday 19 April.
Located at Doonan, Hoofbeats Sanctuary is a safe, restorative space that brings people, animals and nature together to improve the emotional well-being of people living with mental health challenges resulting from trauma.
Visit the website for more information and artist details: seeingthesoul.org.au
