It’s not only the large-scale events such as this year’s outstanding Adelaide Festival and Adelaide Fringe that have won support from the public – in 2010 one of South Australia’s top exhibitions of emerging artists broke all previous records in generating income for artists. The Helpmann Academy Graduate Exhibition, which closed yesterday with a nomination for an Adelaide Fringe Award, generated more than $30,000 in income for emerging artists – the highest income for artists ever produced by the exhibition, which has been running annually for over 15 years and is a long-time favourite with Adelaide audiences.
“We were thrilled that people wanted to support the artists in this way,” says Helpmann Academy CEO Alison Dunn. “While the main focus of the exhibition is simply to show the works chosen by our eminent selection panel, it’s nevertheless such a vote of confidence for an artist when someone purchases their work.”
On the opening night, six outstanding artists were presented with awards valued at more than $12,000, including:
· Brooke Randall – the Hill Smith Gallery / Helpmann Academy Friends Award
· Klaus Gutowski – The Raffen Prize
· Astra Parker – City of Adelaide Award (exhibition)
· Scott James – City of Adelaide Award (acquisitive)
· Michelle Jones – Adelaide Art Society Award
· Elizabeth Hetzel – Backer’s Prize
The Helpmann Academy Graduate Exhibition is an annual exhibition of outstanding artwork by graduating artists from its four visual arts partners. The 2010 exhibition was held at the Torrens Parade Ground on King William Road from 19 February to 14 March
Kim Buck wins Peoples’ Choice Award 2010
At the 2010 Helpmann Academy Graduate Exhibition, visual artist Kim Buck was voted the winner of the Peoples’ Choice Award.
The prize – which is selected by a popular vote of exhibition visitors – is worth $500 and is proudly supported by Peter Walker Fine Art.
Kim’s series of charcoal on paper drawings were a clear favourite among this year’s exhibition goers, who described her detailed work as “brilliant”, “outstanding”, “extraordinary”, “eye-catching and clever”, “exquisite in every way”.
“Rendering these drawings through an intensely laborious and humanly flawed process is my attempt at contesting and exposing the unseen forces that surround us,” Kim says, a graduate of the South Australian School of Art (UniSA). “They represent a disconcertingly familiar internal battle: the metaphorical space in which balance has been disrupted and we are faced with the choice to hold on and fight or to give up the battle and simply let go.”
The Helpmann Academy for the Visual & Performing Arts assists emerging artists to make the leap into professional practice, by providing a range of programs and opportunities including exhibitions, awards, grants, mentorships and international exchanges. The Academy’s partners are TafeSA – the Adelaide College of the Arts and Vizarts O’Halloran Hill; University of South Australia – South Australian School of Art; University of Adelaide – Elder Conservatorium; Flinders University- Flinders Drama & Flinders Screen Production; Adelaide Central School of Art.
More News
