Pemberton Arts Group celebrates 21st annual Spring Exhibition with renewal theme on show

The Pemberton Arts Group celebrated the opening of its 21st annual Spring Exhibition on Friday night, with the theme of renewal on show across a range of creative mediums. A host of artists received awards on the night with Paul Fontanini’s New Growth piece taking out the Mona and Torsten Ketelsen Art Prize. Judges said the work reflected the renewal theme well with an aged stump growing a new plant and flower. “The variation and combination of techniques in this sculpture is successful as is the use of old recycled wrought iron,” judges said. “Incorporation of the copper against the steel gives the sense of a red rose, though the colour is actually very subtle.” Sue Collins was awarded the Rygold Nominees Prize for her work Awakening, which judges said had “well-executed layering of the shapes” creating an illusion of space and movement. Marion Nelson’s work Renewal Rain took home an award with judges impressed by the “evocative watercolour pouring technique” showing the promise of rain. “The theme and technique are combined well and the use of the pouring technique in the foreground harmonises with the sky,” they said. The encouragement award went to Lily Gibbs-Hughes for her piece The Body, with judges impressed by her skill and application of a variety of techniques in the painting.