The Nature Speaks Art Prize at the Foundry Arts Space celebrated various practices, including painting, drawing, sculpture and textile art, encompassing expressions of nature in art and socially and ecologically motivated works relating to our challenging, changing natural environment.
As the exhibition concluded on Sunday, August 16, the final award winner was announced, with the People’s Choice Prize worth $500 going to Ballarat local Summer Lewis for her oil painting.
The 16-year-old drew inspiration for the piece from her grandparents, who are retired dairy farmers from Tongala, and named the painting Kristabel after their cows.
Having been encouraged to pursue the arts from a young age at school, Summer aimed to capture a picture of hope amid the strain that drought and bushfires placed on farming communities, aligning with the exhibition’s theme.
Reflecting on her win, Summer expressed her gratitude to everyone at Foundry Arts Space for hosting the exhibition and to everyone who voted for her painting.
“It’s very validating, (and) it makes you feel like you’re a real artist,” she said.
While one exhibition at the Foundry closes, another begins, with ‘Embrace the Wonk’, presented by the Tuesday Junction Artists, set to run from August 21 to September 13.
Working together over the past eight months, the Tuesday Junction Artists have built a collaborative installation through a messy and wonky creative process.
Their unique approach allowed different artistic instincts and skills to amalgamate into a final piece made from wire and papier-mache.
The Foundry Arts Space welcomes visitors to explore these artworks from 11am to 3pm daily (closed Tuesdays, except during school hours), with opening hours extending to 4pm from September, located at 13-17 Murray Esplanade, Echuca.
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