Dr Christian Rowan MP, the Shadow Minister for the Arts and State Member for Moggill, has congratulated the Art West Community Gallery on holding its first exhibition for 2021; the Art West Abstract Prize.
With 75 entries from Art West Members across the western suburbs of Brisbane on display, Art West Community Gallery President, Bruce Peebles, said such an exhibition was a unique opportunity for local artists.
“There’s an incredible array of talent in the western suburbs, which for so many years has been undiscovered.
“Now, there is this great opportunity for it to blossom through the Art West Community Gallery.” Mr Peebles said.
Dr Rowan, said it was terrific to be able to once again celebrate local artists through the Art West Community Gallery.
“The Art West Community Gallery is truly an outstanding local asset, being almost one of the only community galleries of its kind to be located within a shopping centre, in this case Mt Ommaney, which ensures that local artwork can be enjoyed and experienced by so many local residents.
“I’d like to thank President Bruce Peebles, Art West Founder and Patron, Colin Williams, and the Art West team for continuing to foster and support our rich and diverse artistic talent across the western suburbs of Brisbane.” Dr Rowan said.
Toowong-based abstract expressionist artist, Kate Barry, had the honour of judging the entries for the exhibition, and ultimately awarded first prize to Perrin Millard for the piece ‘Unison’.
In awarding the first prize, Ms Barry said she had a strong emotional reaction to the piece and was drawn to the painting after just one viewing around the gallery.
“The work definitely captured what abstract art is – art that does not attempt to represent an accurate depiction of a visual reality but instead use shapes, colours, forms to achieve its effect.
“I loved the warm toned colours of the fresh painted moving layers and organic shapes behind — juxtaposed with the opaque clean hard edges and shapes in the foreground.” Ms Barry said.
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