16/04/2009

Record entries by emerging artists in ‘the churchie’ 2009

the churchie national emerging art exhibition has again attracted a record number of entries – 849 works from 360 artists from across Australia.

This is 70 entries up on the previous record set last year.

Selection judge for ‘the churchie’, curator and art consultant, Dr Tania Cleary, will choose around 100 of the entries as finalists in the 2009 award, which offers a $10,000 cash prize to the overall winner.

In her preliminary consideration of this year’s entries, Tania said it was evident that artists were engaging with politics - environmental, human and urban.

“What I’m viewing is a range of styles and media reflecting contemporary issues and concerns: deforestation, depression, decay and the transient nature of life,” Tania explained.

“But I’m also viewing works that seek to inspire and encourage hope through humour.

“What I'm judging is not merely the relevance of the idea or the artist's ability to take us on a journey or to tell us a story, but also his or her ability to manipulate their chosen medium.

“There are some breathtaking images that remind us of the beauty of nature and human imagination, as well as performance works that inspire laughter because of their theatrical absurdity.”

Tania said the artworks entered in the churchie national emerging 

art exhibition 2009 were a reflection of the times.

“They take reference from the past while being firmly rooted in the present,” she said.

“And for the first time in the award’s history, there is congruence between the painting, sculpture and new media entries.”

A curator for the last 25 years, Tania works with indigenous, colonial and contemporary collections held in both public and private institutions in Australia and Asia.

She was a valuer for the Commonwealth government's Cultural Gifts and Cultural Bequests programs between 1996 and 2007, and since 2006 has been the Significance Assessor for the National Library of Australia. Tania was recently appointed Queensland Liaison Officer for the UNESCO Memory of the World Program.

The selected works in ‘the churchie’ will be judged by Australian artist and art critic, Jeff Makin. His selection of the overall winner and category winners will be announced on Friday May 29.

Jeff is a leading Australian landscape painter and living heir to the Heidelberg School tradition, who painted with Fred Williams in the 1970s.

The overall winner of ‘the churchie’ receives $10,000 in cash, donated by Brand & Slater Architects.

KEY DATES FOR ‘the churchie’ 2009

Entries opened:

1 December 2008

Entries closed:

31 March 2009

Opening night / Announcement of winners
Friday 29 May 2009

Exhibition of pre-selected & winning works:

28 – 31 May 2009
 
Location of exhibition:

Morris Hall (Anglican Church Grammar School)
Oaklands Parade, East Brisbane

Enquiries:
enquiries@churchieemergingart.com

More information:

www.churchieemergingart.com

Media contact:
Nikki Shrimpton / nikki@nscomm.com / 0412 645 547

Winners of ‘the churchie’ 2008

Overall winner ($10,000):

Sam Smith                                        Film Still (Portal)                 
                       

Category winners:

Painting:

Elizabeth Kunoth Kngwarray        Yam Seeds and Flowers               

Works on paper:

Todd McMillan                                  I bought these for you         

Sculptural/Object based:

Angela Rossitto                                Love Sick      

New technologies:

Todd McMillan                                  go on