2017 Art Awards: Opening Day This Saturday

Feature image
‘2016 Art Awards’ Presentation Night. Photographer, K. Price

2017 Art Awards: Opening Day This Saturday

An incredible transformation is taking place behind closed doors at the Gladstone Regional Art Gallery & Museum, this week.  With all entries now submitted in The 42nd Rio Tinto Martin Hanson Memorial Art Awards 2017, by artists, near and far, the questions on their minds are, which works will pass pre-selection?  Which works will take out the major Awards?  Be on hand when all is revealed this Saturday, 14 October 2017.

When the doors open at 10am, artists and their supporters will stream through, hoping to see their works within the exhibition of entries.  At 11am, the group will gather for their first introduction to this year’s Awards Judge, Patricia (Pat) Hoffie.   Pat will lead a Floor Talk of the exhibition, enabling artists the chance to look through the Judge’s eyes.  Artists are encouraged to stay on for the informal Artists Lunch, available to visitors for a gold coin donation.  Catch up with friends or make some new ones, the Artists Lunch is a delicious, social event!

At 2pm, Pat will deliver her much-anticipated Illustrated Lecture on Art/Audience/Site; why do we make art?  The slideshow will give an interesting and engaging insight to her background, as both an experienced artist and academic.  Visitors are encouraged to peruse the exhibition of entries until 5pm, when the Gallery & Museum doors will then shut until 6pm.  At this time, the doors will reopen for the final gala event; The Official Launch and Awards Presentation. 

Be sure to arrive early to reserve your seat, as hundreds will be eager to discover which works were the Judge’s favorites.  Cr Matt Burnett, Mayor of Gladstone Region will be a guest speaker on the night, along with Glenn Butcher, Member for Gladstone and Jo Duke, Gallery & Museum Curator.  To officially open the exhibition, Major Sponsor representative Mike Dunstan, QAL General Manager.  All eyes will be on Pat Hoffie however, as she concludes the evenings formalities by announcing the winners of the lucrative $38,000 prize pool.

Everyone is welcome to attend any or all of Saturday’s Art Awards events.  To RSVP, contact the Gallery & Museum by 5pm, Wednesday 11 October 2017.  Phone (07) 4976 6766 or email gragm@gladstone.qld.gov.au

The Gallery & Museum is located on the corner of Goondoon & Bramston Streets, Gladstone, with FREE admission.  The venue will be closed for installation between 9 - 13 October, however after this time, it will be open during usual business hours, 10am – 5pm, Monday to Saturday.  The exhibition of entries into The 42nd Rio Tinto Martin Hanson Memorial Art Awards 2017 will remain on display until 7 December 2017.

 

- Ends (433 words)