A GROUP of talented artists from Penola’s Gallery 54 recently collected a swag of awards through various competitions in the region.
Artists Dagny Strand, Jo Fife, Ann Carpenter, Diana Wiseman and Kate Czaban have all received recognition for unique artworks across a range of mediums.
As part of the recent Tatiara Art Prize, Ms Wiseman was awarded the Highly Commended $1000 Tatiara Art Prize with her painting titled A Landscape Remembered.
With 260 entries put forward and only 60 selected for judging, Ms Wiseman’s work was a stand-out.
Furthermore, Ms Czaban was honoured at the recent South East Art Society 2017 Bendigo Bank Open Art Awards.
Her photograph titled Down On the Farm II was awarded first prize in the photography section.
Other achievements came from the Wattle Range Art Competition and Exhibition at the Millicent Gallery, where Ms Strand, Ms Carpenter and Ms Fife were all awarded for their artworks.
Penola resident Ms Strand claimed the top painting award with her small yet striking piece titled The Apple Sorter.
She wowed judges Country Arts SA visual arts coordinator Eleanor Scicchitano, Adelaide Contemporary Art Gallery ACE open curator Toby Chapman and award-winning experimental video artist Heath Franco.
Mr Chapman said all the judges agree Ms Strand was a deserving winner and the region had a thriving arts community.
“The piece is a quiet work in many ways as it is small in size, but despite being across the room, I was immediately drawn to it,” Mr Chapman said.
“It had a certain clarity in terms of its composition – it is a portrait without a face and to me that is quite powerful.”
Ms Carpenter was recognised with the runner-up prize in the drawing and painting category for her piece titled Mile Hill After The Fire.
In the textile art category, Ms Fife shone, claiming the top prize for her intricate work titled Ripe.
Gallery 54 consists of 14 artists from the Penola and Mount Gambier areas and hosts regular exhibitions and events.
The gallery will celebrate 21 years in February when artists will showcase a retrospective exhibition of works created over the years.
