The Collie Art Prize People’s Choice of $1000 was awarded to Catherine Gartner for her standout watercolour painting Banjo – The Old Sheep Farmer.
The cash prize was presented by Collie bed and breakfast Whispering Pines owner Wanda Bird.
Perth based artist Mrs Gartner said she got the inspiration to paint Collie sheep farmer Banjo Patterson after a call to one of the local pubs.
“I had just done a portrait of my granddaughter and it turned out well, so then I thought well who am I going to paint, so I rang the pub and I said do you have any iconic person in mind? What I was wanting was sort of a person with lots of character and a person of the town,” she said.
The pub put her into contact with the grand-daughter of Banjo Patterson and from there they decided to meet.
“When I heard his name I thought it was absolutely meant to be. I came up from Perth and got photographs and we had a look around and that’s how I came across Banjo,” said Mrs Gartner.
The theme for this year’s art prize was identity, which encouraged artists to submit artworks which explored the age-old issues of identity and belonging.
Mrs Gartner said her painting represented the wider theme of identity through our ageing population and how their identity often starts to deteriorate.
“Our population is ageing and as it does the elderly are revered less and less by society. Their intrinsic work ethic, experience, knowledge, insight, traditions, and deep sense of commitment can be undervalued. As they approach their twilight years, their mental and physical strength fades and their very identity begins to diminish. Banjo is a local born and bred sheep shearer and in my painting of him, I hope to capture his unique identity,” she said.
Whispering Pines owner Wanda Bird said donating $1000 to the art prize gives artists like Mrs Gartner the recognition they deserve.
“It’s such a worthwhile cause, the Collie Art Gallery is really important to Collie and I felt that I could support the gallery. I think it signifies that their work is appreciated by the general public and it’s very encouraging for them,” said Mrs Bird.
Thrilled with her win Mrs Gartner said she plans on spending the money to fund her Water Colour Society of WA Poland trip.
The main art prize award of $50,000 went to Brian Robinson for his linocut print, By Virtue of This Act I Hereby Take Possession of This Land and two other prizes of $5,000 went to Sarah Smith for her charcoal piece, Cotton Candy and Darlington artist Alistair Taylor for his painting, Synchronymity (96 Alistair Taylors).