Outback Arts, Media Release, 8 November 2021

After rescheduling due to COVID-19 health precautions, the 2021 Outback Archies Art Prize was officially opened Saturday 6th November at the Outback Arts Gallery, Coonamble. This event was by invitation only, extended to the exhibiting artists and project partners. The group enjoyed socially distanced mingling, locally made food, and the announcement of the 2021 Annual Outback Archies prize recipients.

Nearly 100 artworks are featured in the exhibition coming from the far-flung rural areas of not only the Outback Arts region of Bourke, Brewarrina, Bogan, Cobar, Coonamble, Warren and Walgett Shires but also, Gilgandra, Narrabri, Moree, Gunnedah, Liverpool Plains, Gwydir, Tamworth, Broken Hill, Wentworth Shire, Central Darling Shire and the Western Unincorporated Area – that’s seventeen Local Government Areas in total!

This popular exhibition and art prize is all about celebrating the colour, creativity and spirit of our communities as artists explore the theme ‘Legends and Landscapes’. The artworks included in this exhibition are presented in four major artwork categories. They include Photography, Sculpture, Ceramics and Two Dimensional. In this year’s Art Prize the Young Outback Archies category has grown to now include both Primary and Secondary School categories.

“In a year with so much confusion and upheaval, we were very excited to have the ability to host a social event, for the artists especially. The joy the Outback Archies brings to such an extended audience each year is remarkable, as is the quality and diversity of entries” said Outback Arts, Executive Director, Jamie-Lea Trindall

First place in the Two-Dimensional category was Lisa Wheeler of Coonamble for her silkscreen print ‘Yellow Abyss’, while second place was awarded to Maree Kelly of Gunnedah for her portrait ‘Stories by lamplight’. In Photography, Adam Edwards of Broken Hill won first prize with his landscape ‘The Empty Outback’. Second place was taken by George Willams of Walgett for his work titled ‘Burruguu Miyay’. The Sculpture category was won by Prue Cullen from Coonamble for her artwork ‘Man’s Best Friend’ with Jude Fleming of Warren taking second place for her paper artwork ‘Drawn Out’.

In ceramics, the top prize went to Kylie Lamph of Tamworth for her work titled ‘Historical Land Clearing’ with Kathy Graham of Broken Hill coming in second with her artwork ‘Journey’

Thanks to Mont Marte, the winners of this year’s Young Archies Primary category received a haul of art supplies. Bindi Kilgour of Warren came first in the Primary Young Outback Archies with her photograph ‘The Rains’ and William Smith from Burren Junction was awarded second for his painting titled ‘Joey’. First place in the Secondary Young Archies category went to Kate Woolams of Gilgandra for her entry ‘Wading’ and Second place went to Sarah Smith from Burren Junction for her artwork ‘What a Galah!’.

The Open Aboriginal Art Prize was awarded to Matt Kennedy for his ‘Coolamon from Country’ and the Young Aboriginal Art Prize to Dakota Johnson. from Bourke for their drawing ‘Whale’. A Packing Room Prize was awarded by the staff who unpacked and installed the exhibition, which went to Erika Sorby of Tamworth for her self portrait, ‘As Theodora’. Two Curators Awards were presented, the first to ‘Sunset’ by Corey Brooks from Bourke and another to Young Outback Archies entrant Peyton Johnson of Coonamble for ‘A slice of heaven’. The People’s Choice Award will be announced at the close of the exhibition.

The overall Outback Archies prize winner, who the judges deem have explored and represented the theme at the highest level, through a well-resolved artwork, was awarded to Melissa Kelly of Gilgandra for her set of ceramic works ‘Cockatoo Vases’.

The judging panel was made up of Emily Rolfe, Curator Contemporary Visual Art at Campbelltown Arts Centre as well as Phil Aitken, Education Officer at Western Plain Cultural Centre and Catherine Goldsmith, Artist, Arts Educator and Outback Arts Board member.

Outback Arts were excited to team up with a number of generous sponsors and partners. Special thanks to our Gold sponsor National Recovery and Resilience Agency, our project partners Arts North West, West Darling Arts, 2 Rivers Pty Ltd, Gilgandra Shire Council, Narrabri Shire Council, Campbelltown Arts Centre, our anonymous donors and local sponsors NorthWest Vets. Along with contributing Councils to the Outback Art program Bourke, Brewarrina, Bogan, Cobar, Coonamble, Warren and Walgett Shires.

The 2021 Outback Archies Art Prize will be on show until 28 January 2022.