Harden Landscape Painting Prize A Huge Success

Harden’s inaugural art prize exhibition proved to be a smashing success, drawing around 300 visitors from Canberra, Wagga Wagga, surrounding towns and Hilltops residents over the weekend.

The $10,000 Harden Landscape Painting Prize, which attracted about 120 entries from across the country was won by Melbourne artist, Domenyk Eades with a work titled Rain-soaked Outcrop.

The winner was announced at the official gala opening at the Old Courthouse in Murrumburrah on Friday night.

Experienced Australian art judges, Sarah Gurich, Susan Brindle and Megan Monte, director of the Bathurst Regional Art Gallery, president of Southern Tablelands Arts and director of Ngununggula, Southern Highlands Regional Gallery respectively praised the quality of entries and the breadth of expression of the artworks depicting landscapes.

President of Harden Art Prize Inc, Rob Provan said the challenge facing the small organising committee in late November this year was to get the art prize - with a not inconsiderable offering of $10,000 to the winner - off the ground and flown to its destination in less than six months.

“It exceeded our expectations,” Mr Provan said.

“We are excited to think about how this prize could grow in the next few years.”

All visitors to the exhibition voted for a viewers’ choice which went to John Sharman for his painting, Murchison Gorge WA.

The Harden Art Prize was set up with the backing of dual sponsors Bendigo Community Bank Harden-Murrumburrah and the Kruger Trust.

It is intended to promote the twin towns to the arts community of Australia and to encourage visitors as well as the local Hilltops community to view the annual exhibition of work.

To see the artworks of all finalists, go to southerntablelandsarts.com.au/harden-murrumburrah-landscape-painting-prize/

• Topics:

• Arts & Media
• Competitions