2005 Glover Prize Results

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The Winner of the Glover Prize 2005
for a Landscape Painting of Tasmania was


Stephen Lees
Wishbone Ridge His oil on board painting titled "Wishbone Ridge" depicts the parched landscape of the sandstone ridge with the wind blasted trees clinging for survival in this inhospitable environment. The viewer's perspective from above the trees, shows that although the ridge is surrounded by water, it is hundreds of metres below and is the sea; unreachable and unusable.
This painting confronts the reality that Tasmania is not just the lush green pastures so fondly depicted by tourist brochures but encompasses a wide range of landscape.

The Judges short-listed six of the 43 finalists from which they chose the winner. The judges said that it was difficult to make their final selection because of the high standard of the works presented and felt that the final six should be singled out for praise.

The other five are:

Kerry Gregan "Inlet, Coles Bay"
Inlet, Coles Bay "These recent paintings are a continual response and visual conversation with the natural landscape of east coast of Tasmania where I have lived and worked for the past twenty years. The landscape provides a trigger for the act of painting, the response is intuitive and upon entering this place there is a subconscious absorption and recognition of time and environment. Painting has become a conduit to the landscape which provides an ever renewable source of exploration. The work strives to convey this inherent sense of the basic and expressive nature of such places."

David Keeling "Narawntapu - 1850"
Narawntapu - 1850 "This painting is from a series of works picturing the West Head entrance to Narawntapu National Park. The artist stood in the middle of the road and photographed a complete 360o panorama of the car park. As with all of Keeling's landscapes we are interrupted in our search for the sublime by the evidence of our contemporary reality. He asserts that the landscape is as much about own desires as it is about our need to escape."

Stewart MacFarlane "Before the Rain"
Before the Rain "I am a painter who works directly from the landscape, as well as urban scenes. With both I seek drama and interest, reaching beneath the superficial and outside the settled experience. My painting Before the Rain is a Queenstown scene. Queenstown first caught my focus when I drove through on the way to Strahan. Captivated by the intense colours and desolate feeling of the surrounds, I have made a number of return trips prepared with my painting gear and sought out the many scenes that teased my eye. Several works have resulted from these trips"

Michael F. McWilliams "Liffey River Intruders"
Liffey River Intruders "This image of cattle is viewed from the opposite side of the river through a cluster of dark trees and bushes. The viewer is perhaps disturbing the cattles' leisurely time at the river. Although a seemingly pleasant and relaxing image, most Tasmanian streams and rivers are suffering from increasing human interference and pollution. Farming practices, industrial development and the continued clearing of land all add to the problem.
The Liffey River is a perfect example of this. Beginning its life as a pristine stream it develops into a dirty and polluted river as it passes through farms and areas of human habitation."

Philip Wolfhagen "Idyll XIII (Summer Flood, South Esk) 2004"
Summer Flood, South Esk "My work is chiefly concerned with the relationship between culture and landscape, but particularly the personal identification with a landscape that has become mythologised through the repeated act of painting it. Each successive work is a homage both to Nature and to Painting whilst expressing concerns on the condition of both. My work is ultimately about the uniqueness that comes from the individual experience of nature. I am currently working on a series of Midlands landscapes which I see as flags or emblems for place."


The Judges:
Dick Bett, Bett Gallery, North Hobart
Professor Vincent McGrath, Head of the School of Visual and Performing Arts of the University of Tasmania
Janet Laurence, Practising Artist, Trustee of Art Gallery of NSW

Leo Schofield, who spoke eloquently about John Glover and his relevance to the current Australian art scene, opened the exhibition. 450 guests attended the opening night cocktail party and the announcement of the winner of the 2005 Prize.

The cheque for $20,000 and the bronze marquette were presented jointly by the two major sponsors: Pam Graham General Manager of Launceston Airport, and Brendan Blomeley Operations Manager of Federal Hotels and Resorts .

The exhibition was open for public viewing from Saturday 12th March to Tuesday 15th March inclusive with the collection achieving over 3500 visitors over the four days. The exhibition was open for an additional day in 2005 and proved a success.

The Greg Waddle Peoples' Choice Winner
Marion's Peak was David Bentley's work titled "Marion's Peak". This talented young artist was excited to receive this prestigious award as he is only at the start of his artistic career. Interestingly, his mother Teresa Bentley, an established artist, was also chosen as a finalist for this year's Glover Prize. The cheque for $3,000 was presented by Chris Taylor, Northern Manager of Roberts Ltd. David Bentley : "Marion's Peak"

Many artists have been instinctively drawn to the Cradle Mountain/Lake St. Claire national park. A presence or spirituality lies in its rolling hills and jutting mountains. My attraction to it rests in its utter irregularity and volatility; the nature of the place which is elemental and uncontrolled, epitomising nature. In this instance, Marion's Lookout was the location of the Cradle Country's performance, as blistering winds, freezing cold and snow featured as the back-drop for one fleeting moment, as the clouds briefly parted, revealing the morning sun."

Exhibition Coordinator was Jane Deeth. Jane is a freelance consultant who is well known in Tasmania for her experience in coordinating many exhibitions of importance in the state. Her creativity and knowledge was invaluable in ensuring that this unique architectural space and the finalist paintings created an atmosphere of dialogue and excitement.

The Committee wishes to thank the sponsors for their support and all the artists who entered the competition. We look forward to the 2006 John Glover Art Prize, which will be held over 4 days of the March long weekend period from 11th to 14th March, 2006.

Major sponsors this year were
Launceston Airport and Federal Hotels and Resorts

Other Sponsors:
The Examiner Newspaper, Southern Cross Television, Tamar Ridge Wines,
The Z Files, Roberts Ltd, Shadforths Ltd, Northern Midlands Council.



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EVANDALE TAS 7212