HELPING HAND FOR YOUNG ARTIST
BUDDING young artist Lily Horne, 5, might just be the biggest fan of this year’s Strand Ephemera.
Lily and her grandfather John Walsh, from Hermit Park, checked out this year’s exhibition and Lily even took along a sketchbook to make her own drawings of the impressive outdoor installations.
“We planned to go down weeks ago and it’s great to come down here, have a coffee and look at the artwork while we’re going for a walk,” Mr Walsh said.
“It attracts tourists and on a glorious day like today it stands out, it’s outstanding.
“There’s some outstanding pieces of art that really poke out at you.
“It gets people out and talking, and that’s what artists want people to do, so I think it really achieves its aim.”
The $10,000 Strand Ephermera major prize winner was announced at Sunday night’s official launch in the Wonderland Spiegeltent, with Dream Palisade by Dominique and Samuel Chen taking out the top gong.
Ephemera judge Bradley Vincent said Dream Palisades was a unanimous choice thanks to its commanding presence on the foreshore.
“It is a work that, like the best works, reveals more and more layers the more time you spend with it,” Mr Vincent said.
“We were first struck by its form, the perfect scale and presence for its location and the way it allowed itself to be framed by the its surrounds. It invites the viewer down from the foreshore, on to the beach.
“It speaks beautifully to the history of land art, being made of the very material of its location.”
Thawvl by Ngethn o’ Thawvl Wedlvn and Stranger to these Shores by Jane Hawkins, Sally Munns and Rhonda Payne received high commendations by the judges.
Voting is still open for the $2000 Strand Ephemera people’s choice award. For more information visit townsville.qld.gov.au/facilities-and-recreation/theatres-and-galleries/strand-ephemera.