St George Art Awards 2014

People’s Choice Prize 2014

The winner of the People’s Choice Award was unveiled at the Museum & Gallery on Friday, 
5 December 2014. Over the past few months, visitors were able to vote for their favourite artwork in all of the categories of the St George Art Awards. Over 180 people voted and the votes were tallied up revealing a stand-out favourite. A few visitor comments were also singled out as being particularly thoughtful and creative and will be rewarded with prizes. 

Images: Hurstville City Library Museum & Gallery

Warhorse Metamorphosis, by Adam Galea, was awarded the prize at the People’s Choice Presentation & Party. Visitors caught a glimpse of the talented, young artist accepting his award and were able to have a closer look at the most popular piece. The piece also pleased the judges and had previously been awarded the St George 3D Art Prize.

Adam Galea and his Warhorse Metamorphosis
Image: Hurstville City Library Museum & Gallery 

Many visitors voted for this artwork including a 2 year old, whose mum wrote: "Chosen by my 2 year old daughter. She says she chose it because:'It's scary, it looks like Harry Potter*, it has pockets*'. 
I think it's because it reminds her of the centaurs (she has seen pictures)!

Musical entertainment by student of Vicace Piano Studio
Image: Hurstville City Library Museum & Gallery

Guests were treated to live music during the evening from students of Vivace Piano Studio whilst enjoying some refreshments and enjoying the artworks in its final week.
The St George Art Awards are on show until 14 December 2014. Don’t miss your chance to see Warhorse Metamorphosis for yourself!   

St George Art Awards 2014

What's your favourite artwork?

This year the St George Art Awards finalists’ exhibition shows much diversity. The artworks include sculptures and paintings, ranging from different sizes and colours but still linking to the main theme of 2014, which is ‘Transformation’.

Another Element by Sandra Sacilotto

Amongst the great artworks, Another Element by Sandra Sacilotto immediately caught my eye as the dark figure and contrasting colours made it stand out. Personally, I think it illustrates the struggle of people in modern society (in this case a young male) and the choices they have to make about the paths they wish to pursue. The brilliant portrayal of a young male in a hoodie suggests a troubled person as they walk towards the darkness of the tunnel. The medium of this artwork is acrylic on canvas resulting in a clean, polished look. The dark parts of the artwork significantly contrasts with the white light outside the tunnel, symbolising how darkness can be all-consuming. 

When you observe Another Element ask yourself, what is the man walking away from?

By Stella, Museum & Gallery work experience student

Regeneration by Christine Jeyachandran

I found it difficult to pick a favourite artwork because so many of them were amazing and extremely detailed, but one artwork stood out to me, and I could relate it to the theme of transformation straight away. 

Regeneration by Christine Jeyachandran shows the transformation of bushland: when a fire burns the shrub to ash and then it regenerates into the green leafy land that it once was.

The most noticeable aspect of the artwork was the different shades of red used, which contrasted dramatically with the white walls. As well as this, I could also see a change occurring and that the artwork wasn't just portraying one thing. This change stood out to me and this is why this is my favourite artwork.

By Anna, Museum & Gallery work experience student

Who will win the People's Choice Prize?

People’s Choice presentation and party

Friday 5 December 2104, 5.30pm for 6.00pm start

Join us for the announcement of the People’s Choice Prize of the St George Art Awards 2014.

Enjoy musical entertainment by the students of Vivace Piano Studio.

Free event, please book your ticket on the LMG What's On page

St George Art Awards 2014

What's your favourite artwork?

Written by Iris, Hurstville Museum & Gallery volunteer

The St George Art Awards finalists’ show has a wide variety of different artworks, such as sculptures and paintings, ranging from colourful to black and white, and from big to small. Each of these artworks is unique in its own way and can captivate the eyes of any audience.

Selfie in Excess, by Amy Dynan, particularly appeals to me as it is a reflection of how people in society (mainly teenagers) are now taking pictures of themselves. It reflects our current society and culture. The black and white colour scheme stands out to me as it appears old-fashioned yet with a contemporary feeling at the same time. The medium of this artwork is charcoal powder printed on paper creating the black and white effect of the artwork. The white background makes the feature image stand out. Selfie in Excess is intricately detailed, with each accessory that the figure is wearing drawn with great care. The tones and shading are quite nicely blended together. It appears to be a photograph as Amy Dynan has succeeded in producing a very realistic artwork that looks like an actual ‘selfie’.

Selfie in Excess is a contemporary artwork with much attention to detail. It can appeal to many audiences as it is a reflection of today’s culture and society, allowing it to be easily understood by everyone.

Selfie in Excess by Amy Dynan
Image: Hurstville City Library Museum & Gallery collection

Don’t miss your chance to see Selfie in Excess and many other great artworks at the St George Art Awards on show until Sunday 14 December 2014. 

Vote for your favourite before Sunday 30 December 2014 and come along to our People’s Choice Presentation & Party on 5 December 2014 where we will reveal everyone’s favourite works.

ST GEORGE ART AWARDS 2014

WARHORSE METAMORPHOSIS

Adam Galea's Warhorse Metamorphosis in the St George Art Awards 2014 exhibition

To transform into something out of convenience, quite literally a soldier and a horse combined... Such an amazing thought, but perhaps not the most practical – Adam Galea

The theme of Transformation in this year’s St George Art Awards brought us an array of creative and intriguing works. The winner of the St George 3D Art Prize, Warhorse Metamorphosis by Adam Galea, was a most deserving and thoughtful piece.

Adam Galea is a very talented, emerging young artist who has achieved great success in 2014. Since completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the National Arts School in 2010, Adam’s sculptures have received popular acclaim in a number of exhibitions. Recently, another sculpture in the Warhorse series was featured in the Hidden exhibition at Rookwood Cemetery, and also at Clarkes Point Reserve, Woolwich, in Harbour Sculpture. Earlier in 2014, Adam was the winner of the Rockdale Outdoor Gallery Art Prize for his work Home Shell.

We are very excited to have Adam’s work on display at the Museum & Gallery. The St George Art Awards are on show now until Sunday 14 December 2014. 

Don’t miss your chance to see Warhorse Metamorphosis for yourself!

To read about the St George Art Prize winner, Motion of Light by Hadieh Afshani, visit our blog here

St George Art Awards 2014 winners announced

On Friday 17 October the crowds gathered at the Civic Theatre, Hurstville Entertainment Centre, to congratulate this year’s finalists and to attend the official opening of the St George Art Awards 2014 exhibition. 

Visit the St George Art Awards website to see all winner and highly commended artworks.

Hadieh Afshani was awarded the St George Art Prize 2014 for her stirring oil painting Motion of Light. Hadieh emigrated from Tehran to Australia in 2006 and her most recent works explore the journey of self-discovery experienced by migrants. Motion of Light considers the moment when a space becomes a place of meaning. Hadieh plays with the notion of light in many of her works, and the warm glow emanating from the centre of the image, with the faintest silhouette of a figure, hints at the decision to accept the challenge of transformation in a new, unknown place. 

St George Art Prize 2014 Winner Hadieh Afshani - Motion of Light

There is a fantastic variety of responses to the theme of transformation on display at Hurstville Museum & Gallery and Hurstville Library. Visit us before 14 December 2014 to have a look!

To book for the St George Art Awards public programs go to the LMG What’s On page.