Tasmanian talent shines at Clarence Open Art

MORE than 250 entries from artists across Tasmania featured in this year’s Clarence Open Art Exhibition, showcasing everything from painting and drawing to photography, printmaking and mixed media.
Now in its fourth decade, the much-loved biennial exhibition once again filled The Barn and The Schoolhouse at Rosny Farm, highlighting the breadth of contemporary creative practice across the state.
Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley congratulated the exhibiting artists and this year’s award recipients.
“The Clarence Open Art Exhibition has become a much-loved tradition for artists and audiences alike, and it is fantastic to see such a strong response from Tasmania’s creative community once again,” Mayor Blomeley said.
“The exhibition captures the incredible breadth of artistic talent and creativity that exists across our state.
“Visitors can expect to discover everything from emerging artists exhibiting for the first time through to highly accomplished and recognised practitioners.”
Acclaimed Tasmanian artists Michaye Boulter and Luke Wagner judged this year’s exhibition, awarding the $800 Overall Open Art Prize to Hannah Webber for Sheoaks Under the Bridge.
The judges praised the work for bringing a “magical, dreamlike quality” to an otherwise easily overlooked landscape.
Heather Crisp won the $500 Painting Prize for Family Treasures, while Stephen Lovegrove received the Photography/Digital Media Prize for Passionate.
Kaye Green’s The Tree in the Wind took out the Printmaking Prize and Andrea Coats received the Drawing Prize for Nest Study 2 (Crescent Honeyeater).
Stephanie Barnes received the Mayor’s Choice Award for A Winter’s Waddle at Richmond, while Collette Lansdell’s Waltzing Matilda was awarded the Hangers’ Prize.
Honourable Mentions went to Lissa Greenlees for Winter Walk, Yvette Wierenga Price for Lunchtime and Julie Todd for Chain Lagoon.
The exhibition featured nearly 250 paintings, drawings, photographs, prints and mixed-media works, continuing a Clarence tradition that has provided a platform for both emerging and established Tasmanian artists for decades.