Art quality admired
A large crowd gathered to admire the work on show on opening night of Drouin Ficifolia Festival’s art show.
Baw Baw Arts Alliance president and art show director Kaye Lancaster, along with co-judge Janice Orchard, praised the quality of work, with primary school exhibits featured in the exhibition for the first time.
Generous sponsorship from local business allowed prize money to increase.
Co-judge Janice Orchard said she had fun judging with Deborah Milligan, with their clash of traditional and contemporary views a cause for healthy debate.
“There was plenty of laughter and arguments,” she said.
“We waited until Kaye wasn’t around so she wouldn’t freak out and put paintings down next to each other.
“There was a lot of informal and polite discussion.”
Ms Orchard was so impressed with Elisabeth Smoorenburg’s “Time Table” exhibit that she not only awarded it best 3D exhibit, but also bought the piece to take home.
Rhonda Gray was awarded best in show for her oil painting exhibit “The Sound of Silence”. Results: Best young artist in show (primary student): Max Brown (Birds), highly commended: Georgia Cunstance (Slinky Malinki); best exhibit by a secondary student: Scarlett Daly (Shanti Peace); best small work: David Doyle (Little Aussie Surfer), highly commended: Bob Hickman (Proposal); best still life: Margaret Koopmans (Fusion Cooking), highly commended: Elisabet Smedbakken (MY Ficifolia); best mosaic: Dot Thorne (Buttercup); best print: Keltie Mullin (Virgo), highly commended: Helen Timbury (Echidna Exhibition); best sporting exhibit: Diana Wilson (Picnic Racing), highly commended: David Doyle (Iron Man); best work by Baw Baw resident: Laurel Foenander (Good Morning), highly commended: Brett Weir (Metamorphosis); photography: first: Zoe Stavris (Like a Girl), second: Emma White (Sunset and Silhouettes); wearable art: Kay Lancashire (Voyager), highly commended: Sally Everett (Miss Fisher visits Ficifolia); acquisitive award: Aidan Weichard (Estelle); best 3D exhibit: Elisabeth Smoorenburg (Time Table), highly commended: Wayne Foenander (SS Bordeaux); best portrait: Rhonda Gray (Cool Clear Water), highly commended: Sharon Wootton (The Widow); best land or seascape: Bob Hickman (Fish Creek Hotel), highly commended: Gary Miles (Mark Oliphant Mountain – Arkaroola Series); JH Cuthbertson best in show: Rhonda Gray (The Sound of Silence).