The forecourt of the Bruthen Mechanics Hall carried the weight of a cluster of large sculptural works, setting the tone for the town’s highly anticipated Mixed Bag Art Exhibition over the weekend.
The happy buzz spilled through the doors, mingling with welcoming warm light from inside the hall and creating a sense of excitement as the show opened on Friday evening, September 18, running through to Sunday, September 20.
Guitarist Peter Korn set the mood from the stage, in front of which tables were filled with refreshments while local drinks were also available for attendees.
The hall was packed with visitors navigating the narrow corridors where a record number of mixed media works had been thoughtfully hung.
Judges Gav Roberts and Klara Jones were enlisted to carry out the challenging task of judging the extensive range of submissions.
Both judges noted the great range of techniques and variety among the pieces made their task exceptionally difficult, though thoroughly enjoyable.
Mr Roberts confirmed that all judging was conducted completely blind, with no artist names identified during the evaluation process.
He highlighted four key criteria considered when selecting the winning entries:
– The quality and standard of presentation, ensuring the work was “gallery ready”.
– The content of each work and its level of originality.
– The artist’s overall mastery of their craft.
– The artist’s technical skill and execution.
Out of 224 entries in this year’s Mixed Bag Art Exhibition, the top honours were awarded to:
– Best in Show: Elena Dickman for Golden Light
– Best 2D: Peter Tarpey for Abstract
– 3D Art (Upcycled Coastal Debris): Stuart Gillingham for Mud Crab
In the Junior/Children’s Section, open to all entrants 15 years and under, judges evaluated the quality of artistic intent relative to the age of the entrant.
– Best Junior Art in Show: Rocco Mazzitelli (nine years) for Another World.
– Junior Art (Highly Commended): Oi Lin Bould for Blue Cliff and Phoebe Martin for Summer Days.
