Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival, The Naracoorte News
The winner of this year’s prestigious Poets of Penola (POP) Acquisitive Art Prize is Xavier Mouche for his work “A Ballad of Rhythmic Patchwork”, an artistic interpretation of the poem “The Hoofs of the Horses” by William Henry Ogilvie.
The $12,000 art prize was awarded during the opening night of the Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival (PCAF), hosted at the new home of the festival, Still Water Studio in the heart of Penola on May 16.
Formerly known as the John Shaw Neilson Acquisitive Art Prize, the newly named Poets of Penola Acquisitive Art Prize celebrates the literary and artistic heritage of Penola.
The new prize invites artists to create works inspired by the poetry of three poets associated with the region – John Shaw Neilson, Adam Lindsay Gordon, and William Henry Ogilvie.
With 47 entries received locally and from across Australia, the response to the expanded prize has been enthusiastic.
In addition to the POP prize, awards presented on the night included the Limestone Coast Local Art Award and the Packer’s Prize.
Still Water Studio is open Friday to Monday, from 10am to 3pm and all through the week after the festival.
“Like the festival, this space is entirely volunteer-run, and we welcome the public to enjoy these extraordinary artworks. A small donation during your visit helps support the studio,” said PCAF coordinator, Peta Baverstock.
The entries for this year’s Poets of Penola Acquisitive Art Prize, including the winners, will be open for exhibition until the end of the long weekend on June 9, at Still Water Studio, 45B Church St, Penola.
The Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival acknowledges and thanks the Art Gallery of South Australia for its continued support, and especially Tansy Curtin for her generous contribution as this year’s judge.
This article appeared in The Naracoorte News, 4 June 2025.
