I was thrilled to be able to visit my first Glover Exhibition in Evandale (just outside of Launceston) on Sunday 10 March as part of the Artable 5 day live-in retreat with Master Pastellist Lyn Diefenbach. The exhibition is open to artists from anywhere in the world and defines “landscape” painting in its broadest sense. The aim is to stimulate conversations about the meaning and possibilities expressed in the words landscape, painting and Tasmania. Details of the exhibition can be found here: https://www.johnglover.com.au/exhibitions/winners/glover
The Glover is one of Australia’s most prestigious landscape art prizes. This year saw 42 finalists from 482 entries (a less than 1 in 10 chance of selection!).
The winner was a Melbourne artist Piers Greville with his “oil and concrete and acrylic on board” titled “Pedder Prime Cuts” (120 by 180 cm – over 2 panels). The landscape was a combination of digital mapping, photography and memory.
The People’s choice was “Monument of Memory” acrylic on canvas (183 by 183 cm) of Bathurst Harbour by Jennifer Riddle (VIC), another interstate entrant.
The Packers Choice went to Seabastian Toast from NSW for her work “Surfers are the Worst (Shipstern’s Bluff), an oil on canvass 90 by 100 cm.
I was very interested in the size of most of the paintings. Big is obviously beautiful! (at least in the judges’ minds). There were very few small paintings and not a single miniature, which was a shame (I have recently joined the Miniature Society here in Tasmania). It is also clear that oil is still King/Queen. However, pleasingly, there were a few great acrylics (one of my favourite mediums).
Various iconic Tasmanian landscapes featured in the exhibition including Mt Wellington, Bruny Island, Cradle Mountain, Lake Pedder and Cataract Gorge.
There were also a few mixed media pieces (I noted one with resin) but sadly not a single pastel (although one piece did incorporate some oil pastel). There was only one watercolour.
There were a few unusual pieces like printed acrylic ink on aluminium composite or pigment print and vinyl on aluminium. There were also a couple of artists who utilised colour pencils to great effect.
It seems the story that goes with the particular work is as important as the picture itself. The catalogue which you received on entry ($10) gave a very useful description of the author’s interpretation of the piece.
I will be attending next year’s exhibition for sure! Well done to all of the participating artists and the organisers/sponsors. Great to have such an event in Tassie and in beautiful Evandale.
