Striking works take out prestigious awards

A large crowd gathered in the gardens of the Port Hedland Courthouse Gallery to celebrate the winners of one of the region’s most prestigious art awards last month.

A large sculpture of a lizard entitled My Country by Tjanpi Desert Weavers artist Dallas Symthe took out the $30,000 prize for most outstanding work in this year’s awards.

The piece was picked unanimously by the judging panel of University of Western Australia senior lecturer Dr Darren Jorgensen, WA painter Penny Cross and independent curator Katie Mullen for the main prize.

In their judgement, the trio said the piece was “a clear choice because of its bold presence” .

“This sculpture uses its material to give weight and life to this lizard, speaking of the animal and the country itself, ” they said.

Local Hedland winners on the night were Spinifex Hill Studio’s William Nyapuru Gardiner (best work by an indigenous artist) and Winnie Sampi, (encouragement award), and Amanda Firenze-Pentney, who won the best sculptural work for her piece My Street.

Ms Sampi, who has been painting with Spinifex since 2008, said she was surprised to win her first ever art prize.

“Oh I’m excited … it was a surprise, I didn’t know I was going to win a prize, ” she said.

“My work is from my heart and my head … it is all about my country.

“When I was small I wasn’t in town, I was out bush all the time with my family; I didn’t know one day I was going to be an artist and start going back to my country and seeing it through painting.”

Young South Hedland artist Howard Holder took out the youth award for those aged under 25 for the third year running, for his work depicting Hedland.

The prize for best work by a non-indigenous artist was a split decision, being awarded to Leonie Cannon and Wesley Maselli.

Tommy May won the best work in a medium other than painting, while the Kathy Donnelly judges award was won by Nada Rawlins. This year’s awards had an increased prize pool of $60,000 to $100,000, with artists from the Mid and North West, the Pilbara, Gascoyne and Goldfields sending in more entries than ever before.

The judges said they were impressed by the incredible diversity of entries in this year’s awards. “This year saw a high degree of contemporary approaches to traditional media and the judges were impressed by the originality of the entries, ” they said.

Presented by FORM and the Port Hedland Courthouse Gallery, supported by BHP Billiton and the Town of Port Hedland, the awards launched the North West Festival weekend.