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Archibald Entries
AGRA artists are invited to share their Archibald entries with us.
'All Jokes Aside' Glenn Robbins
2007 entry by
Helen Edwards
We have just heard that this entry by Helen Edwards was awarded the Peoples' Choice Award at the Crown Exhibition at the 'Hidden Faces' Exhibition showing works by Victorian Archibald Entrants which was on show at the Crown Casino in Melbourne.
Congratulations Helen.
PS We' re also aware that Helen will exhibit her work in a private exhibition at Arlington, 1012 Riversdale Drive, Surry Hills opening from 12-22 July
The following works were entered by AGRA artists in the 2006 Archibald Art Competition.
We invite you to follow the progress of the Archibald, and the Salon de Refuse
We would also be happy to hear feedback from viewers.
Last year Ray Kenyan won selection to the Archibald exhibition and Joseph Attard's work was hung in the Melbourne exhibition which shows the selected works of Victorian entries. Following this year's show Ray Kenyan has sent a letter of interest. See below.
This year we are aware of the following member's entries. Please
let us know if you enter for this or any similar awards.
Woman of Rome (Lavinia Nixon) by Joseph Attard |
Simply Santo* by Helen Edwards |
'Nancy Bird - Tickled Pink at Ninety' by Nikyla Amanda Smith
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Jennifer Keyte by Raelene Sharp* *We have just heard that Raelene has won the Shirly Hannan award for portraiture (value $30000) 4/6/2006. Congratulations Raelene |
"That's it!" - Robyn (Science Show) Williams at the ABC studio by Ray Kenyan |
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The Archibald Art Competition
attracts many entrants from all types of art. It has attracted much controversy as viewers have varying viewpoint and judge works from their perspective of what makes a great piece of art.The judges also admit to enjoying the controversy that their decision makes.
Salon Des Refuses
has grown from a selection of the artworks that have been viewed by the judges but not selected for the exhibition. After you see our members entries visit the Archibald and Salon des Refuses at the end of this page
*Simply Santo by Helen Edwards has been selected for the Salon des Refuses
A letter of interest from Ray Kenyan
After my success (to a point) last year, and not so much this year, I have been giving a lot of thought to the competition and the possible expectations of the Trustees (must use capital letter). There are now more valuable competitions, but the long and fascinating history of the Archibald makes it compelling.
I think that my entry last year was actually a pretty good painting, certainly the best portrait I had done. I'd only done about half a dozen previously, and not very seriously. But the painting, while it was considered well enough to be a finalist, was never really in the running to be a winner. I think to win the Archibald, a painting has to have a huge amount of WOW factor. The Archibald has often been the centre of controversy. I am sure the Trustees encourage this and are happy with the publicity that the announcement of the winner brings each year.
Another thing to consider is that it is an acquisitive prize worth $35,000
to the winner. The Trustees, as much as anything else, want value for their
money when they are adding to their collection. For example, $35,000 is not
a bad price to pay for a John Olsen these days. This years winner, 'the Paul
Juraszek monolith' by Marcus Wills (after Marcus Gheeraerts) looks like a
terrific painting and fulfils the criteria for selection. It may be based
on another work (an etching about 400 years out of copyright), but it has
given the subject a new and very clever twist. It will add value to the collection
of the AGNSW and adds considerably to the CV of the artist. All of these
tend to have an upwardly spiralling effect.
As for subject, they do seem to be favouring people in the arts, rather than,
say, politics, science or media. J F Archibald's original aim was to create
a collection of portraits of outstanding Australians and I think the Trustees
do take this aspect seriously.
In summary, if you want to win the Archibald, you need to do a FANTASTIC
picture. A GREAT idea, a WORTHY and well recognised subject and VERY, VERY
well painted - or drawn. The artist has to believe that his or her entry
is something that the AGNSW is willing to pay $35,000 to get. Looking into
the rejects room last year, I didn't see any amongst the stacks of pictures
there that would get anywhere near that.
I am really looking forward to seeing this year's finalists at the Myer Mural
Hall from 2 June to 16 July.
For your interest I attach a photo of my entry for 2006: "That's it!" -
Robyn (Science Show) Williams at the ABC studio South bank. I'll be showing
this and last year's painting in the June show at AGRA.
Ray Kenyan
