Samantha Milne wins best exhibit

It seems that every year the Ficifolia Art Show, Drouin, gets bigger and better.

The art show was held recently as part of the Ficifolia Festival that celebrates the flowering of the Ficifolia trees lining the main streets of Drouin.

This year’s show was the fifth year the art show has been held in the Drouin Football Club rooms in a partnership with the Baw Baw Arts Alliance.

Art show organisers describe it as a true community partnership and a unique way to showcase the facilities of the Drouin Football Club rooms, as well as display the range of artistic talent in the Baw Baw Shire.

Event organisers said the 2019 Ficifolia Art Show managed to live up to its reputation of being one of the best regional art shows in Victoria with a huge range of artworks in painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, woodcraft and fibre art.

They said the show continues to be of such high quality because of the generous community support it receives, with the show attracting four new sponsors this year. Prize winners: JH Cuthbertson award for best exhibit: Samantha Milne – “Her Ladyship”.

Best exhibit by a Baw Baw Shire resident in any medium: Coral Smith – “Where Have All the Flowers Gone”; Highly Commended: Craig Fison – “War Bride”.

Acquisitive award: Aileen Bonser – “Late Night at Lakes”.

Maery Gabriel Award for best contemporary art work: Anastasia Richmond-Miller – “For Shame”; Highly Commended: Lin Wang – “Eagle”.

Best portrait: Coral Smith – “A Magnificent Moment”; Highly Commended: Sheila Daniells – “Mesmerising”.

Best 3D exhibit: Wayne Foenander – “Copper Jacket”; High Distinction: Kay Lancashire – “Where Do the Lost and Broken Toys Go….

Best photography: first Emma White – “Five Days Young”, second Carol Monson – “Marble Steps”. Best fibre art: Joan Best – “Forest”. Best mixed media exhibit: Kay Lancashire – “I Opened a Book and In I Strode”; Highly Commended: Cherie Leedon – “Save” and Donna Taylor – “Pierre”.

Best wood exhibit: Bruce Wearne – “Set of Three Cannisters”; Highly Commended: Bruce Wearne – “Eucalyptus in Eucalyptus”.

Best still life: Glenda Jones – “Winter Orchids”; Highly Commended: Bill Lancaster – “Honey”.

Best mosaic: Adrian Bright – “The Green Picture”; Highly Commended: Elizabeth Smoorenberg – “After Field of Poppies”.

Best print work: Alison Bain – “Grevillea Series No.3”.

Best sporting artwork in any medium: Denise Sanders – “Catch a Day”.

Best small work: Colleen Bright – “A Bit of Europe”.

Best exhibit by a secondary student: Gabrielle Dawson – “Eric”; Highly Commended: Scarlett Daly – “A Man”.

Best exhibit by a primary student: Laedy Fey – “The Crows Red Roses”.

Left: Coralie Smith (centre) receives her award from judge Janice Appleton (left) and Helen Arthurson (right) for best portrait in the Ficifolia Art Show. Coralie also won the award for best exhibit in any medium by a Baw Baw Shire resident.Below: Elizbeth Smoorenberg with her highly commended piece for best mosaic, “After Field of Poppies”.

Winner of the JH Cuthbertson award for best exhibit in show Samantha Milne stands proudly at her winning piece “Her Ladyship”.

Peter Dwyer admires the artwork of Gabrielle Dawson who won best art work by a secondary student.