You’ve heard of the Archibald and the Moran but here on the Tweed we have an even more exclusive art prize.
The Les Peterkin Portrait Prize is so exclusive you have to be in primary school to enter and there’s not one, but four or five winners.
With entries from 21 local primary schools, competition is fierce, with this year’s prizes going to Jessica Wylie (5-7 years), Sam Pollock (8-10 years), Jazmin Jonkers (11-13 years) and James Severs and William McLeod in the Special Needs category.
And, like the big awards, there is a public’s choice award – although in the Les Peterkin award it’s Children’s Choice Award and it’s judged by a different primary school each year.
This year the discerning art critics came from Chillingham Public School and they chose Madhavi Nath’s Odissi Me.
The Les Peterkin Portrait Prize is an increasingly popular children’s art competition, hosted by the Tweed River Art Gallery. Each year’s prize has a different theme which challenges thousands of Tweed’s primary school students.
The theme this year prompted students to imagine themselves in another time or place. Students were inspired by the theme of “Different Places, Different Faces” and have used their art making skills to depict themselves as stone age hunters and gatherers, Vikings, Goths, Renaissance courtiers, Balinese dancers and gods and goddesses from other realms. The portraits transport us to exotic places such as Ancient Greece, China, India, Colonial Australia, Bohemian Paris and even to imaginary realms.
This colourful exhibition, on display until Sunday, November 13, includes a framed display of 48 of the most outstanding prize entries, as well as a folder display of 130 additional art works by students from over 21 local primary schools.
Tweed River Art Gallery Director Susi Muddiman said it was a visual feast for children, families, teachers and those young at heart, this annual exhibition touches everyone’s heart.
“Tweed River Art Gallery is lucky to be able to host this annual crowd pleaser. This competition gets better and better every year,” she said.
“Congratulations to all 1061 local primary students who depicted faces from different historical and cultural periods. It is wonderful to frame and exhibit the work of these talented young artists in the gallery.”
This year’s judges were: Tweed River Art Gallery’s Education and Audience Development Officer and artist, Robyn Sweaney; children’s book illustrator, Tamsin Ainslie; and primary school teacher and adventurer, Penny Riley. All judges had a difficult time short-listing works and were impressed with the vibrant imaginations and research skills of students.
“Many thanks to Tyalgum Public School P&C, the Friends of the Tweed River Art Gallery and Kingscliff Arts for their generous funding of prizes. Without their support the prize couldn’t run,” Ms Muddiman said.
