Judges of this year’s Klytie Pate Ceramics Award were effusive in their praise of the high calibre of entries, with an impressive self-portrait by Melbourne artist Emma JV Parker taking out the top prize of $10,000, announced last Friday night.
Now in its fifth year, the biennial award presentation and exhibition have grown in stature thanks to the legacy that Klytie’s godson Dr Will Twycross has continued with the strong support of the Mansfield artistic community.
The opening night at MACE saw finalists gather with judges, local art lovers and community representatives for the announcement of the major awards.
From more than 100 entries, the exhibition consists of 39 diverse pieces and provided a challenge for the three esteemed judges, Janet DeBoos, Anna Maas and Christopher Sanders.
The Klytie Award-winning piece Once Upon an Australian Autumn is hand-built porcelain with painted underglaze and glaze.
Ms Parker, in her artist’s statement, said, “This work illustrates my growing awareness of the impact of colonialism as an ever-present concern in contemporary Australia.
The dense foliage mirrors a complex and layered history.”
The Emerging Artist $1500 prize was awarded to Joseph Silver from Tasmania for his piece Burn.
The judges also presented an encouragement award to former Mansfield resident Ann Knights from Alexandra, for her outstanding piece Cloudburst, inspired by the landscapes of the North East.
With such quality, technique and creativity in so many of the works, the judges awarded several highly commended prizes.
Ms DeBoos said they were “extremely impressed with the quality” and how artists had used “old ideas in new ways and new ideas in old ways.”
Coordinator of the Klytie Pate Ceramics Award, Kathryn Ruddick, paid homage to the ceramics community across Australia and New Zealand.
“Finalist Rob Barron drove from Inverloch to Mansfield to drop off his enormous entry – Jar with Lugs,” said Ms Ruddick.
“Two other finalists, Jennifer Hillhouse and Kirsty Manger, mentioned in their entries that their finalist pieces were fired in Rob’s kiln.
Another finalist drove her entry and a fellow artist’s entry to Mansfield, as they work together closely.”
Other ceramicists carpooled from Melbourne to Mansfield for opening night.
Finalists were seen taking selfies with people they had met and followed on Instagram since the finalist list was announced, said Ms Ruddick.
“It is this following, this sharing of ideas and knowledge, sharing of tools and equipment, encouraging and building one another up, which makes the ceramics community so strong, and lifts the creative pieces to international level,” she said.
“It is an absolute privilege for Arts Mansfield to be entrusted with these artworks, and for our little town to organise and host a competition and exhibition which is held in the highest esteem by ceramic artists across Australia,” she said.
Arts Mansfield thanked every entrant, volunteer, sponsor and supporter for making the event possible.
Dr Twycross acknowledged Klytie, who came from Melbourne art royalty, and her ability from the 1930s onwards to create a significant art scene for ceramics.
“It is really gratifying to see where ceramics have come – both as an artform and in many other uses,” Dr Twycross said.
“Klytie left me some money to do this,” he added, reassuring the audience that the award event had a “great future.”
Mayor Steve Rabie spoke of Mansfield Shire’s support for such events with “arts as the fabric of the community.”
Ms Ruddick said it is a fantastic opportunity to obtain a piece of original ceramic art and urged locals and visitors alike to drop into the exhibition, which runs until 5 October at MACE.
The $500 People’s Choice Award will be announced when the exhibition closes.