2024 Art in the Porongurup

Announcing our Winners

To view this year’s entries, please scroll down to the below 2024 photo gallery and download this year’s program the Art Trail Catalogue to review in conjunction with the photos.

For enquries please email artintheporongurup6324@gmail.com

Key Event Information:

  • Event Dates: 29 March to 6 April, 2024
  • Entries Open: 1 November 2023
  • Entries Close: 22 March 2024
  • Bump in: midday to 4.30pm Thursday 28 March 2024 unless prior arrangement is made.
  • Event Times: 9 am to 4.30 pm daily, closing midday on 6 April
  • Presentation: midday 6 April 2024
  • Bump out: Exhibits can only be removed by artists or purchasers after the presentations on Saturday 6 April, 2024. If unable to collect on this day, please make written arrangements for someone to do so on your behalf. No responsibility will be taken for art works remaining on site after 1pm Saturday 6 April, 2024.

Event Location:
– Surrounds of the Porongurup Hall, 2257 Porongurup Road, PORONGURUP WA 6324

Awards Prize Pool of $7,500:
– Open Award Winner – $2,500

– + Open Award 1st Runner Up – $1,500

– + Open Award 2nd Runner up – $750

– People’s Choice Award Winner – $1,000

– + People’s Choice Award Runner Up – $500

– Youth Award Winner – $1,000 (15 years and under)

– + Youth Award Runner Up $250

– + 3x Highly Commended $100 vouchers

Event Judges:

Anne Grotian

Anne Grotian was born in Hamburg, Germany. She completed a Diploma of Engineering, graduating in Fashion-and Textile Design, Ingenieur grad.in Fashion/Textil-design (Fachhochschule Niederrhein, Germany) in 1976. She was a founding member of the artist group “WERKSTATT 97”( Germany). She has exhibited at Schloss Reinbek, Bossard Tempel, GEDOK and Hamburg. Her materials have included textile, blown glass, porcelain (decals design), sandstone and plaster. However, since migrating to Australia (2009), she has been exploring the sculptural qualities of clay. Her work starts with the interest in form. There is no difference if it is a form of a horse, head or coiled pot.. She needs the more abstract form of the vessel to create her horses or heads. The process is generally a long one and there are no shortcuts. Through cut outs, laying down and negative space they formulate a new concept. The work is no longer only ceramic but sculptural through the size and place. She was several times finalist in South West Art Now, Bunbury, Queensland Ceramic art award and showed work in 2022 in Fremantle, Bathers Beach. She had two selected solo exhibition in Albany. She is member of MIX Artists Inc. in Albany. An extensive CV is available on request.

Bevan Honey

For 33 years Bevan Honey has maintained a national profile as a professional artist exhibiting in institutions across Australia, and built a practice that engages a pragmatic multidisciplinary approach in working with ideas and institutions, particularly in the field of site specific ephemeral public art. Bevan has also been involved in several arts organisations over the years on many levels from exhibitions coordinator through to board member. He has presented in a range of solo exhibitions as well as showing his works in an extensive range of collections including the Art Gallery of Western Australia and Art Gallery of South Australia. He has an impressive list of awards and commissions, and experience as lecturer and curator. An extensive CV is available on request. www.bevanhoney.com

Event Committee:
– Event Coordinator: Wendy Diletti
– Treasurer: Fiona Glen
– Secretary: Helen Purves
– Committee: David Taylor, Judy O’Neill, Karen Brown, Allen Kennedy Paulene Cobain, Annette McCready

Contacts:

  • Entries: Helen Purves
  • Art Bazaar: Fiona Glen
  • Event Info: Wendy
  • Grounds set up: Allen Kennedy
  • General email enquiry: artintheporongurup6324@gmail.com

With many thanks to our event sponsors...

Bendigo Bank Mount Barker   I Porongurup Inn, Shop & Tearooms I Shire of PlantagenetFriends of the Porongurup 

We also wish to thank our supporting sponsors:

Lothlorien Studio – David Taylor

Corkescrew Gallery – George & Sue Corke

Bolganup Homestead – Kingsley & Kathleen Faulkner

Annette McGready

Castle Rock Estate – Robert Diletti

The Sleeping Lady – Nichola Broad

Kelvin & Judy O’Neill

Strike Me Pink

Maleeya’s  Hillside Bamboo Nursery

FAQs

Who can enter?
Anyone, whilst we promote this as a Great Southern event, if you can get your entry in in time, meet our T&C’s and be able to set up and pack down your sculpture, everyone is welcome.

Are there any specific media that artists can use?
There is no specific media. As long as your material can withstand wind, rain and sun and is not toxic to the environment it is up to the artist. Recycled material is making a comeback. Steel, wood, plastic, ceramic, brick, or a combination of multimedia, you choose.

Is there a theme?
The theme for the event is totally ‘Open’. The committee believes there are pro’s and con’s to having a theme. Some artists like direction, some like not to be limited in scope. We love the diversity of the entries by having an open theme.

Can you enter more than once?
We will only accept up to three entries per person or group. An entry may include multiple pieces with a cohesive theme. For example, the Albany Potters usually create their own theme for their sculptures to produce a multi work entry. It is very impressive.

How do you define a sculpture?
Entry is to be sculptural, broadly defined as a 3-dimensional exhibit. So the key here, your sculpture needs to have some form of depth.

What are the terms and conditions of entry?
We strongly recommend that artists review the T&C’s located on the entry form.

Event Overview

2023 Open Winner- Melaine McQuillan, Trees

Click here to view other entries from the 2023 Art in the Porongurup event.

Fostering community engagement and positive well-being this free community event has developed over 22 years to encourage and stimulate established and emerging artists to show case their sculptures. This Great Southern Event is now well established on the local event calendar.

Located in the natural bushland surrounds of the Porongurup Hall this outdoor event provides the public with the chance to view and buy one off sculptures and art pieces as well as casting their vote to help determine the People’s Choice award winner. In conjunction with Art in the Porongurup, the Porongurup Craft Group run their annual Art Bazaar, the two events entwine very well, complementing both Sculpture and Art.

This event was initially started by the late Anne Burchell to assist the Friends of the Porongurup Range (Friends) to raise funds to assist the purchase of the 511ha Twin Creeks Conservation Reserve, land located on the agricultural plains between the Porongurup and Stirling Ranges. However, as explained by Friends’ President, Judy McKinnon, at the 2023 presentation, “with the help of extensive fund raising and community support the Friends’ objective was achieved several years ago. Whilst the reserve now boasts a mixture of protected plant communities, revegetated areas, and regrowth, we no longer need to run this event.”

While the event no longer had a fit for the Friends, members of the Porongurup Community Association (PCA) saw the importance and popularity of the event and wanted to continue to attract people to the region whilst also supporting arts community.

Originally called Art in the Park, the venue has changed over the years, in the past held at Mount Trio Vineyard, the Karri On Bar, in the Castle Rock national park and finally came to rest aptly at the Porongurup Hall.

Hosted by a subcommittee of the Porongurup Community Association Inc. (PCA), a small but active not for profit volunteer group, this event meets their core objective – to foster community spirit and fellowship in the Porongurup.

This event is popular with both adults and children. As there is no entrance fee it provides an economical family day out. Visitors can spend an hour or more looking through the sculpture nature walk, cast their vote and then look through the Art Bazaar and enjoy a coffee and cake or light lunch inside the hall.  The event focus remains to motivate creative minds and create a fun, safe and enjoyable environment for all ages.