The Mandorla Art Award is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary with a Retrospective Exhibition on show at the New Norcia Art Gallery and Museum.
The exhibition, which opened last month, exhibits all 18 previous winners’ works that have been acquired through the award’s history of 17 exhibitions, plus a selection of finalists’ artworks from the New Norcia collection, many of which were donated by the artists.
A series of screens allow exhibition-goers to wander through the award’s history within the heritage building.
Joy Legge is the curator of the New Norcia collection and has previously curated several of the Mandorla Art Awards, the latest declared open by Spanish Consul-General, Juan Carlos Gafo Acevendo last month.
In his speech for the opening of the Exhibition last month, Servite priest Fr Chris Ross – who has been involved with Mandorla since shortly after its inception 30 years ago, spoke about how the Mandorla Award has evolved and developed over its lifetime.
Acknowledging previous curators and reflecting on previous exhibitions that have taken place in a variety of galleries in Perth, Fr Ross painted a picture of an award that has grown from grassroots into a polished gem.
In a statement to announce the event, Chairperson of the Manoorla Art Award Committee, Dr Angela McCarthy, said the relevance of the Mandorla Art Award can be measured by the consistency and excellence of its winning works.
“This exhibition charts the artistic development of many high-profile artists, including John Coburn, John Paul, Annette Allman, Concetta Petrillo, Michael Kane Taylor, Brian McKay, Julie Dowling, Ron Gomboc, Nigel Hewitt, Ivan Bray, Alan Baker, Michael Iwanoff, Theo Koning and, most recently, Paul Kaptein,” Dr McCarthy said.
“Though several of these artists have sadly passed away, for the majority of these artists their practice is flourishing; Kaptein has continued to excel in his sculptural practice and, shortly after his Mandorla prize, won the Mid-West Art Prize as well as exhibiting in the Bank West Art Prize, the Melbourne Art Fair and several international group shows.”
Dr McCarthy went on to say that while the retrospective documents the history of the Mandorla Art Award, it also demonstrates the strong foundations that have paved the way for Mandorla’s future and, since St John of God Health Care confirmed its long-term support as its major sponsor, the future is looking bright.
“The Mandorla Art Award will continue to build on its past as it looks to the future, embracing the best contemporary artists inspired to create an artistic response to a religious theme,” she said.
Artists working in all media are encouraged to apply for the 2016 Mandorla Art Award by visiting www.mandorlaart.com for more information.
The Mandorla Art Award Retrospective Exhibition is on show at the New Norcia Gallery and Museum until March 2016.