The 2021 Outback Archies Art prize is now on full display at the Outback Arts Gallery, Coonamble with the winners formally announced. Featuring nearly 100 artworks in the exhibition, the winners hail from far-flung areas of NSW including the Outback Arts region of Bourke, Brewarrina, Bogan, Cobar, Coonamble, Warren and Walgett Shires but also, Gilgandra, Narrabri, Moree, Gunnedah, Liverpool Plains, Gwydir, Tamworth, Broken Hill, Wentworth Shire, Central Darling Shire and the Western Unincorporated Area – that’s seventeen Local Government Areas in total!
The overall Outback Archies prize was awarded to Melissa Kelly of Gilgandra for her set of ceramic works ‘Cockatoo Vases’. The art prize is a celebration of colour, creativity and spirit of our communities. The 2021 theme explored ‘Legends and Landscapes’.
First place in the Two-Dimensional category was Lisa Wheeler of Coonamble for her silkscreen print ‘Yellow Abyss’, while second place was awarded to Maree Kelly of Gunnedah for her portrait ‘Stories by lamplight’. In Photography, Adam Edwards of Broken Hill won first prize with his landscape ‘The Empty Outback’. Second place was taken by George Willams of Walgett for his work titled ‘Burruguu Miyay’. The Sculpture category was won by Prue Cullen from Coonamble for her artwork ‘Man’s Best Friend’ with Jude Fleming of Warren taking second place for her paper artwork ‘Drawn Out’. In ceramics, the top prize went to Kylie Lamph of Tamworth for her work titled ‘Historical Land Clearing’ with Kathy Graham of Broken Hill coming in second with her artwork ‘Journey’
The Open Aboriginal Art Prize was awarded to Matt Kennedy for his ‘Coolamon from Country’ and the Young Aboriginal Art Prize to Dakota Johnson. from Bourke for their drawing ‘Whale’. A Packing Room Prize was awarded by the staff who unpacked and installed the exhibition, which went to Erika Sorby of Tamworth for her self portrait, ‘As Theodora’. Two Curators Awards were presented, the first to ‘Sunset’ by Corey Brooks from Bourke and another to Young Outback Archies entrant Peyton Johnson of Coonamble for ‘A slice of heaven’. The People’s Choice Award will be announced at the close of the exhibition.
Congratulations to all the winners!
Image: Artists, judges and Outback Arts staff at the 2021 Outback Archies Offical Exhibition opening on Saturday 6 November.