Minister for Tourism and Culture, Lauren Moss today announced Dr Al Strangeways as the winner of the 2018 Portrait of a Senior Territorian with her portrait titled Hills: Kathleen Wallace and the Dancers.
This year, the award celebrates 40 years of self-government in the Northern Territory, and Ms Strangeways artwork stunningly captures the essence of her subject, Kathleen Wallace, who is a local and highly respected Arrernte elder of Alice Springs.
Ms Wallace, who features in Hills: Kathleen Wallace and the Dancers is an eastern Arrernte elder, teacher and internationally respected artist who has lived in her homelands her whole life. Born in a remote area, she was kept away from mission and stations until severe drought and the encroachment of station activities on traditional hunting and gathering led her to being taken to Santa Teresa Mission as a teenager in the 1950s. Since the late 1960s, Kathleen and her husband have raised 30 children. Throughout her life, she has maintained the Arrernte knowledge and worked hard to honour her responsibility to ensure it is handed on, especially through storytelling and painting.
Ms Strangeways will receive $7,000 dollars as part of her First Prize Acquisition Award.
Ms Katalin Hrmp was awarded second prize for her portrait of Mr Gary Single titled Verso, receiving $2,000, and Gaye Coyne was awarded third prize for her portrait Russell Totham out Fishing and Camping with Spot, receiving $500. Peter John Turner and his portrait Mick Palmer, as well as Julia Mayman Proud Land received a Judges Commendation for their entries.
The judges criteria included technical expertise, originality, effectiveness in capturing the personality of the subject, effectiveness in capturing the Territorys identity, culture and history, contribution to the legacy of NT art and the Portrait of a Senior Territorian, as well as their personal response to the work.
The Peoples Choice will be announced on 22 October, and everyone is encouraged to visit the exhibition currently at Parliament House between 9am to 4pm daily until 19 October to cast their vote.
As noted by Minister for Tourism and Culture, Lauren Moss
The Portrait of a Senior Territorian Art Award recognises outstanding Northern Territory artists and celebrates the significant achievements and contributions by senior Territorians to our community.
This years exhibition reflects the many diverse characters and stories that make up the Territory, and you can see our rich and unique history in all of them.
Thank you to the judges for their time and expertise in judging this years Award. This years artworks are powerful and evocative, making the task of selecting the winners very challenging.
Ms Strangeways painting represents a stunning moment in time for one of the Territorys most respected elders, and I congratulate her on her success in this years Portrait of a Senior Territorian.
