Susanna Freymark
It’s been a three-year wait for the 36th Bentley Art Prize. Covid and floods delayed the region’s biggest art show for three years.
Organiser Helen Trustum has been running the show for 20 years.
Today, Saturday, August 5, she was presented with a certificate and gift box from the Bentley Hall Committee by Gordon Serone.
Gordon was emotional as he handed over the certificate saying Helen wanted to retire from running the BAP.
“She works for months to get the art show up and running,” Gordon said.
“She’s on my case all the time.”
He laughed and cried and gave Helen a hug.
The main art prize – Richmond Dairies Landscape Acquisition Painting Prize – went to Katherine Carson from Uki.
Her painting, A Touch of Gold, was praised by judge Sharon Gilmour for its sensitivity. Katherine won $2000 for her the farm scene of Chillingham.
Angela Parr from Knockrow won the Casino RSM Club Acquisition Painting Prize of $1000 for her painting of three galahs titled Girl Gang.
The Reg and Phyllis Hartley Shield is awarded to an artists under 21 years of age.
Reg and Phyllis started the BAP after watching the news on television and seeing their grandsons being rescued by helicopter. They started the prize to raise money for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter. When they died, Helen took on the running of the BAP.
This year the special shield went to Kazia Rabe of her painting Pondering Pug.
The Casino Lions Club awarded the first prize of $500 in the phonography section to Lyn Mason for Mount Barney Farm.
Second prize of $200 from the Casino Medical Centre went to Carolyn Brednow from Evans Head for her photograph of a pelican called Before the Storm.
First places for each section went to:
Section 1: Richmond Dairies Landscape Acquisition Painting Prize $2000 to Katherine Carson for A Touch of Gold.
Section 2: Richmond Valley Council Acquisition Prize $1000 to Glo Hill for Winter Track.
Section 3: Casino RSM Club Acquisition Painting Prize to Angela Parr for Girl Gang.
Section 4: Drawing Prize-Tears of the Rainforest to Julie Standing for Rainforest Magic.
Section 5: Contemporary Art Prize to Rebecca Tapscott for Earth Wind & Water.
Section 6: Amateur Painting Prize to Jane Dewith for Still Life.
Section 7: In and Around Bentley Acquisition Prize to Caroline Heighway for Kerry’s Dream.
Section 8: Library Acquisition Prize to Lucinda Cavalerie for HMS Bentley.
Section 9: Art Other than Painting to Jeht Burgoyne for Virtually the Babysitter.
Section 10: Golden Oldies Prize to Glo Hill for Gang Gang.
Section 11A: High School Art Prize Years 7-9 to Rose Pike for Moki.
Section 11B: High School Art Prize Years 10-12 to Emma Graham for Louis.
Section 12: Primary School Art Prize to Jasmine Duncan for My Mare.
Section 12b: Infants (under 6 years) Art Prize to Zavier Hartley for Bunny Rabbit in the Trees.
Section 13: Photography prize to Lyn Mason for Mount Barney Farm.
Section 14: Student Photography prize to Tamiika Mahomey-Castro for Richmond River.
Reg and Phyllis Hartley Shield Award to Kazia Rabe for Pondering Pug.
Here are more phots of winning artists and some of the art works. You can see the artworks tomorrow, Sunday, August 6 from 9am–3pm. Luke Vasella will perform 11am–1pm.
and then