Inaugural winners announced for the 2014 Noosa Art Award

Around one-hundred art lovers filled Noosa Council's Noosa Regional Gallery on Friday night to hear the first ever Noosa Art Award winners announced.

Brisbane artist Simone Eisler took out the $7,000 Open Category prize with her work Serpentine III.

Simone said that she was honoured to receive the inaugural Noosa Art Award.  

"The opportunity to enter this award felt like a natural fit for my practice and my personal history in this region. My work has always dealt with the natural environment and the hybridity in the evolutionary cycle caused by ever increasing impingement of the urban." Simone said.

"With my father being a vet and breeding cattle in Kin Kin and my many growing years spent exploring the farm and the marvels of nature l have a deep respect for this region.  I have had many shows here in Australia and in Europe but to receive this award is a very special recognition of my practice".

Simone's work now becomes part of Noosa Council's Corporate Art Collection, adding to the already impressive collection that is shown regularly at the gallery.

Other winners include Nicholas Hew who won the 2D Regional Category award with his painting Glass Houses, and local artist Valerie Willy who took out the 3D Regional Category award with her work Recollection of a Noosa River Dredge.

The judge was so impressed with the high calibre of works that they awarded highly commended prizes to Nicola Moss, Thom Stuart, Carley Cornelisson, Damien O'Mara ,Stella Stevenson, Glenis Gray, Carol Forster, and Rose Barry.

Visitors to the exhibition can participate and vote for their favourite artist in the People's Choice Award and go in the draw to win a $50 voucher for the Noosa Regional Gallery shop.

The winner of the $1000 People's Choice Award, sponsored by the Friends Noosa Regional Gallery, will be announced Friday 26 September at 11.30am.

The 2014 Noosa Art Award Finalist exhibition continues until 5 October.

The Noosa Regional Gallery is located Riverside, 9 Pelican Street, Tewantin and is open free to the public from Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 4pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 3pm. For further information about exhibitions, events and bookings, contact the gallery on 07 5329 6145 or email gallery@noosa.qld.gov.au

29 August 2014