Hundreds of talented local artists from across the region will be showcased from this Friday when the 2019 Moree Portrait Prize is officially opened at Bank Art Museum Moree (BAMM).
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A total of 216 people have entered this year's competition, making this third instalment of the prize the biggest yet. Last year saw 150 portraits entered, while there were only 90 in the inaugural competition in 2017.
One of the artists, who has been entering since the Portrait Prize was established is Moree Christian School teacher/actor/artist Tim Barklay.
This year Barklay created a portrait of professional skater Chris Haslam using acrylics, however rather than using a traditional canvas, the abstract expressionist-style artwork has been painted on skate decks.
"I had been wanting to paint Chris Haslam for a while; I was originally going to paint him in a more realistic and readable way," Barklay said.
"But due to my commitments to the Rhinoceros play production, I ran out of time. Instead, while teaching an art class on abstract expressionism, I thought it would be the perfect style to do in a short period of time."
Barklay has stated that he has a real love for portrait painting, saying nine out of 10 times he will choose to do portraits over anything else.
He praised BAMM for the work they've been doing, particularly to provide opportunities and promote local artists through the Moree Portrait Prize and BAMM Art Fair.
"The work that BAMM is doing since their re-brand is amazing, I think that arts in Moree and galleries around Australia are definitively increasing in popularity," he said.
"NGA documented a 4 per cent increase in visitors and interest in visual arts. So It's definitely a growing medium and something a lot of people can get into."
The 2019 Moree Portrait Prize categories include:
- The Barne Family and Binneguy Station Grand Prize - $1500
- Rhodes Kildea People's Choice - $500
- Irritek Local Prize - $500
- Moree Plains Shire Council 16-18 years - $300
- Moree Plains Shire Council 13-15 years - $200
- Moree Plains Shire Council 9-12 years - $100
- Moree Plains Shire Council 5-8 years - $80
Winners will be announced at the exhibition's opening at 6pm this Friday, December 6. The exhibition will run until January 17, 2020. For more information or to RSVP (by December 5) contact BAMM on (02) 6757 3320 or email info@bamm.org.au