Visual Arts in the Valley 2022 is calling out to all local KV artists to enter this year\u2019s biennial festival, which will be held on the October long-weekend. This year, total prize money, all donated by generous Valley residents, has increased to $22,000. There are three prizes for which local KV artists may enter:<\/p>\n
The Salon of Local Artists will again be an important part this year with its own gallery and prizes \u2013 the $1500 Salon Prize donated by long-time supporter Alice Oppen OAM and $500 Commended donated by Linda and Tino Vella of The Hive KV.<\/p>\n
Online entries open Monday 25 July \u2013 time to prepare your entries. All forms of visual art are welcome \u2013 painting in any medium, drawing, printmaking, photographic art, digital art, textile and fabric art, collage, multi-media, new media, video art, etc.<\/p>\n
Also a part of the October long-weekend festival of visual arts will be a Satellite Gallery at The Hive KV featuring a major Sydney gallery, KV Art Trail including the Silo Gallery and Feat of Clay, special gallery talk \u2018Politics of the Portrait: 4000 BC to the Mugshot (or the Selfie)\u2019 by Rex Irwin, plus a collaborative art Installation at the Pony Club by a group of innovative artists through a residency overlooking Lake Yarrunga.<\/p>\n
The goal of Visual Arts 2022 is to continue to grow as a national contemporary visual arts event while retaining a local and regional flavour. In 2020, over 1300 people visited the galleries in the Hall \u2013 and elsewhere in the Village. The road over Barrengarry Mountain is slated to be open before September, so we hope for similar numbers this year.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve had a commitment, following the lead to legendary Sydney art dealer, Frank Watters, to keep entry fees and commissions as low as possible, just enough to recoup costs, in order to return as much as possible to artists. In each of our past two shows, over 30% of artworks sold. In 2020, 50% of finalists in the Salon of Local Artists sold.<\/p>\n
Guest Curator \u2013 Megan Monte <\/strong>\u2013 award-winning Australian curator, recently appointed inaugural Director of Ngununggula gallery at Retford Park. Previously director Cement Fondu contemporary arts space in Sydney and curator of contemporary art at Campbelltown Arts Centre.<\/p>\n Judge \u2013 Jane Watters <\/strong>\u2013 Director, SH Ervin Gallery in Sydney since 2001. Has curated many gallery and touring exhibitions and judged major art prizes including the Portia Geach Memorial Award, NSW Parliament Plein Air Painting Prize, Calleen Art Prize and Gallipoli Art Prize.<\/p>\n Special Advisor \u2013 Rex Irwin<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Internationally known art dealer in contemporary Australian and European art and former co-director, Olson Irwin Gallery, Sydney, who has nurtured the careers of many Australian artists including the most recent Wynne Prize recipient, Nicolas Harding.<\/p>\n Key Dates<\/strong><\/p>\n