Gabrielle Duykers, Naracoorte Community News
A “poignant” and “emotional” textile work has taken home the 2021 Tatiara Art Prize and is now on public display at Walkway Gallery.
The winning work, ‘The Shortest Day of the Year’, comes from artist Deborah Prior and tells the story of family connections as inspired by her grandmother.
Made from vintage Australian woollen blankets, the beautifully crafted piece also represents the wool industry and its critical connection to regional and remote communities.
This year’s esteemed judging panel included Art Gallery of South Australia curator Tansy Curtin, Director of the Murray Bridge Regional Art Gallery Fulvia Mantelli, and artist Ben Quilty.
The judges were unanimous in their appreciation of Ms Prior’s piece and described it as “beautiful” and “poignant”.
Ben Quilty said her work continuously brought viewers back to “offer more”.
“Rather than a simple picture she offers us, with painstaking detail, a look into her most private emotions,” Mr Quilty said.
“It’s much more than a pretty picture, it’s a quietly stellar work by a dedicated and clever artist.”
Tansy Curtin said the piece was pertinent given the isolation many were enduring due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“At a time when human beings across the globe are struggling with loss and loneliness, Prior’s work is an emotionally affecting work which offers the audience hope that we can rebuild from these losses and come together,” Ms Curtin said.
“Albeit in an altered, and perhaps more beautiful, form.”
The $10,000 Tatiara Ara Prize will be presented to Ms Prior at the official awards night on October 31 when the gallery celebrates its tenth birthday.
The biennial competition is presented by the Walkway Gallery in Bordertown, funded by Tatiara District Council.
It is open Australia wide and this year saw more than 200 artists enter their works.
The 53 finalist pieces will be featured in an exhibition at the gallery until 12 November 2021.
The $1,500 Local Art Prize was awarded to Trish Daniel, and Young Artist winners included the Carol Murray Children’s Centre, Georgina Prescott aged 7, Zelie Phillips aged 10, and Ruby Schwarz, aged 16.
Voting is now open for the $1,000 People’s Choice Award, which will close on October 29.
This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News, 13 October 2021.
