Bundaberg Art Prize entries close in one week

Judge excited to return to the Bundaberg Region

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The Bundaberg Art Prize ā€™19 has four sections and will be judged by Senior Lecturer in Art History and Theory at the National Art School Lorraine Kypiotis
The Bundaberg Art Prize ā€™19 has four sections and will be judged by Senior Lecturer in Art History and Theory at the National Art School Lorraine Kypiotis

Bundaberg Art Prize ā€™19 is only weeks away and local artists are busy putting the final touches on their masterpieces before entries close next Friday, 30 August.

The Bundaberg Art Prize ā€™19 has four sections and will be judged by National Art School Senior Lecturer in Art History and Theory Lorraine Kypiotis.

Lorraine has been passionate about art all her life, in fact she says her parents found her decorating the bedroom walls in crayon at the age of three!

Lorraine holds a Master of Arts degree in Renaissance Studies and is currently engaged in a Doctor of Philosophy in Art History at the University of Sydney.

As the Bundaberg Art Prize ā€™19 judge Lorraine said it would be difficult to narrow down one thing she was looking for when reviewing the art works.

ā€œThere are so many things that contribute to a ā€˜goodā€™ piece of art,ā€ she said.

ā€œIn fact, even the word ā€˜goodā€™ is contentious ā€“ what makes a work ā€˜goodā€™?ā€

Judge excited to return to the Bundaberg Region

Having only ā€œbreezedā€ through the Bundaberg Region some 35 years ago, Lorraine said she was eager to stay longer this time and was looking forward to reconnecting with her past-student Marlies Oakley, who had asked her to participate as a judge in the Bundaberg Art Prize ā€™19.

ā€œIā€™m very much looking forward to connecting with the vibrant artistic community in Bundaberg,ā€ Lorraine said.

In the past Lorraine has judged several art prizes, in both high schools and the wider community, from Sydney all the way to England.

ā€œAs an art historian, the aspect I particularly love is seeing how artists have responded to both issues around them and the more formal aspects of representation: there is such a diversity of talented work out there,ā€ she said.   

Lorraine is encouraging local artist to take part in the Bundaberg Art Prize ā€™19 and said participating in events like this was good for the development of an artist because it was often hard for an artist to find representation with galleries to be able to present themselves in a public forum.

ā€œI think itā€™s an excellent opportunity for the artist to not only show their work publicly but also to have the chance to see what is happening in a wider sphere,ā€ Lorraine said.

ā€œUnless youā€™re part of an artistic community, you can become quite contained as an artist working in your own studio. Itā€™s good to engage in public events.ā€

Not too late for artists to enter

Bundaberg Arts Festival president Phil Oakley and Bundaberg Regional Council Manager Arts and Culture Rod Ainsworth
Bundaberg Arts Festival president Phil Oakley and Bundaberg Regional Council Manager Arts and Culture Rod Ainsworth

Bundaberg Arts Festival president Phil Oakley said the $10,000 major prize made it the most prestigious art prize ever to be offered in the Bundaberg Region and it wasnā€™t too late to enter.

ā€œThereā€™s still one week left to enter the Bundaberg Art Prize and I encourage anyone with an interest to take part,ā€ Phil said.

More information can be found online or entry forms can be collected from Art Plus at 15 Electra Street and Bundaberg Regional Art Galleries in Bundaberg and Childers.

Key dates

Friday 30 August
Entry forms and entry fees for all sections must be received by 5 pm

Sunday 15 September
Delivery of art work between 10 am ā€“ 3 pm

21 ā€“ 29 September
Festival open to the public from 10 am ā€“ 3 pm

Saturday 21 September
Awards night

Sunday 29 September
Collection of artwork between 10 am ā€“ 3 pm

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  • Bundaberg Art Prize entries invited