Published on Wednesday, 18 September 2024 at 8:56:07 AM
Locals and tourists alike flocked to Derby Airport to experience some of the region’s finest art and photography at this year’s Kimberley Art and Photographic Prize.
“The quality of everyone’s work is different every year,” She said. “I can't say one year was better than another because every artist produces their very best for the show so you'll always have a myriad of outstanding pieces”.
The annual event showcases the talent of Kimberley artists in a two-week exhibition, with a panel of esteemed judges awarding prizes in a variety of categories.
This year’s overall art award winner, Linda Wilson, said that she was amazed and honored to win after submitting a painting of the iconic Derby Visitors Centre, something she said she doesn’t normally paint.
“Well, funnily enough, I don’t normally paint buildings”, she said. “I think I was attracted to the boab trees, the big boab out the front and people that wait around there, or get off the Greyhound bus.”
“I just thought it was a really good Derby theme, which tells a bit of a story of people coming and going with the Greyhound bus, the network of families that exist all over the Kimberley.”
Jessica Bidewell has curated the Kimberley Art and Photographic Prize for five years and said that the work submitted is always exciting.
“Every artist should be proud of what they have achieved because it's their passion that went into creating it, especially for this event, because it is Kimberley themed and a country to be proud of.”
The event was held in Derby Airport’s refurbished terminal, with Kimberley Art Prize Judge Fiona Gavino expressing her admiration for the quality of the venue.
“It's such a beautiful space for a regional, remote community to have, to showcase the work,” She said. “I've seen a lot of gallery spaces in regional centres, and Broome doesn't even have a gallery space as big as this to put all the works in and right next to the airport”.
“The potential is, you know, the sky’s the limit”.
Prize winner Linda Wilson said that the opening night of the art prize is always a joy to attend.
“It is such a great energy I think it's because so many artists have been working up to that point for months beforehand, pouring everything into their works,” she said.
“It's just fantastic to have it all revealed at the same time and I think that's part of the really great energy of the night and the whole exhibition”. “This is a great time for artists to be able to put their work out there and chat with other artists and feel a camaraderie with other artists as well”.
Ms Wilson said she wanted to thank her family and felt that her faith helped her in her success.
“I feel like God led me to paint what I painted and helped me with it, and my family”.
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