THE diversity of the South East has been captured through a unique art exhibition unveiled at the Millicent Gallery on the weekend.
Over 100 people including artists, family and friends flocked to the gallery on Friday night for the official opening of the fourth annual Wattle Range Art Show.
The exhibition features over 190 pieces from visual and textile artists, sculptors and ceramicists across the Wattle Range and through to Adelaide, Mannum and western Victoria.
Renowned teacher and artist Lois Hodge and Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival committee member Amelia Balnaves were given the task of judging the pieces, commending the calibre and diversity of the exhibition.
However, it was Penola resident and artist Cate Bell’s beautifully crafted doll – The Grape Stomper – that received the Wattle Range Art Prize on top of the 3D category award.
Ms Bell said she did not expect to win and had entered the doll to introduce people to a different medium.
“The Grape Stomper took hours and hours to complete, probably around 40 hours all together,” she said.
“It was made out of polymer clay, which was baked and then hand-painted in oil paint.
“I made the arms, feet, head and torso and built a soft beaded body before dressing the doll.
“She was made from scratch, no moulds or anything and involved a lot of different mediums.”
Ms Bell found inspiration for her winning piece from living in the Coonawarra wine region.
“The doll was based on a character from the television show I Love Lucy, in one of the scenes she did grape-stomping wearing a head scarf and belt.
“I loved that people got the sense of humour of the doll and I was absolutely shocked and chuffed to have won.
“Doll art is a medium that I am going to continue.”
Penola continued to dominate the competition as Dagny Strand claimed the painting award with her piece Offline Interest, an evocative painting of a young boy watching a worker.
The play of light brought movement and energy into the painting and oil on the board.
Dianna Wiseman was named runner-up with her acrylic and charcoal on canvas painting Mount Muirhead.
Penola artist Stella Scanlon’s delicate print Dryland Tea Tree was named winner and attracted plenty of interest.
Anne Miles finished runner-up with Lake Bonney, a reduction lino print encapsulating the mood of the lake.
Special mention was made to Millicent artist Caroline Hammat for her captivating video art, which the judges said “blew them away,” along with Loreto Cataldi’s self portrait.
The textile art category was highly competitive with Megan Caldersmith’s At Home receiving the prize.
The piece used cotton and metallic threads embroidered by both hand and machine, as well as re-purposed materials.
Kay McDonnell’s handmade cape Winter Time was runner-up with merits awarded to Marg Hage and Nancy Mattner.
Ms Hage’s success continued in the mixed media category, where her moody and intricate small piece Foggy Morning received first prize.
Long-time gallery supporter Julie Anne McEwan’s piece Memories of Jan’s Garden on Wire Paddock Road snatched the runner-up place.
Ms Bell topped the 3D category ahead of Ms Strand’s small delicate bronze Cooee sculpture.
Julie Anne Woodruff’s three beautiful ceramic caves and pine forest works were selected and a stunning mosaic table top was selected in the mosaics.
A mention was made of Jo Jo Spook’s Bowl of Fire made from recycled plastic.
Millicent artist and first-time entrant William Twibell won with his striking acrylic XVIII while Michelle Curtis’ colourful The Meeting was awarded runner-up.
The youth category was well supported with Jamie Spicer winning both the division and the Mayoral Youth Award with her painting Through the Window.
A number of recognition awards were also made, acknowledging emerging talent.
Wattle Range Mayor Peter Gandolfi selected Dianna Wiseman’s dry point etching Canunda as winner of the mayoral award.
Nita Von Stanke’s acrylic McCourt’s Florist Shop – which represented the shop’s heritage look and feel – was runner-up.
The exhibition continues until November 6 at the Millicent Gallery.
