Peachester artist Jane Ericksen with her prize-winning portrait “The Looking Glass” which will now become part of the South Burnett Regional Council’s art collection

March 14, 2024

Eight artists shared $5200 in prize money at the biannual David Bryce Rural Art Awards which were announced on Friday night.

David Bryce was one of the South Burnett’s pioneering artists and during his long career many of his artworks became part of the South Burnett Regional Council’s collection.

David Bryce died in August 2000.

In 2017, a retrospective exhibition was held at the Kingaroy Regional Art Gallery to mark what would have been the artist’s 100th birthday. His second cousin – Michael Bryce AM AE, husband of former Governor-General Dame Quentin Bryce – suggested that a biannual art competition should be held to honour the artist’s memory.

The first competition ran at the gallery the following year, and was followed by two more in 2020 and 2022.

Like its predecessors, the 2024 competition offered a total of $5200 in cash prizes, including $2200 for the best work.

This year, the competition had five sections plus a People’s Choice award and – for the first time – was open to artists who lived anywhere in Australia, not just the South Burnett.

All entries were judged by Rachel Weldon, from Bundaberg, except for the People’s Choice Award which was judged by visitors to the gallery who viewed and voted on the artworks in the lead-up to the official opening.

The top prize – the $2200 Open Award – went to Peachester artist Jane Ericksen for her moody portrait “The Looking Glass”, which will now become part of the region’s permanent collection.

The Rural Landscape Award offered three prizes which went to Kerrie Haslem (“Storm Over Quarrybrae”- $500 1st prize), Kate Niblett (“Forest Floor” – $300 2nd prize) and Tiana Justine (“Kilcoy Hills Burn-Off” – $200 3rd prize).

The $500 Rural Portrait Award was won by Tiana Justine for “Endurance”; and the $500 Rural Animal Award went to Wooroolin artist Diana Bolton for “Magpie Geese”.

The $500 Rural Photographic Award was won by Colleen Taylor for “A Gentle Soul”, and the $500 People’s Choice award went to Andy O’Sullivan (“Life Of A Horse Breeder”).

The exhibition will remain on display at the Kingaroy Regional Art Gallery from 10:00am to 4:00pm, Mondays to Fridays, and 9:00am to 1:00pm Saturdays and public holidays, until Saturday, April 27.

Admission is free.

Related articles:

Kerrie Haslem with her work “Storm Over Quarrybrae”, which won first prize in the Rural Landscape section
Colleen Taylor won the Rural Photography Award for her photo “A Gentle Soul”
Judge Rachel Weldon congratulated Wooroolin artist Diana Bolton, who won the $500 Rural Animal section for “Magpie Geese”
Artist Tiana Justine won two prizes on the night – a $200 third prize in the Rural Landscape section for “Kilcoy Hills Burn-Off”, and the $500 Rural Portrait prize for “Endurance”
Judge Rachel Weldon and Kingaroy Regional Art Gallery curator Fran van Vegchel presented the $2200 Open Overall Award Winner prize to Jane Ericksen, centre
Cr Danita Potter chatted with Alice Hauritz, from Kingaroy, whose work “Amphibian Symphony” was entered into the competition’s Rural Animals section
Tahnie Hauritz, from Kingaroy, with Ann-Maree Harrison, from Wattle Camp … Ann-Maree entered a portrait of the late Reg McCallum
Keith and Suzie Wells, from Kingaroy, with Denis and Cherry Carroll, also from Kingaroy
Graham Sully, from Nanango, with Kingaroy Regional Art Gallery volunteer Judy Brook, who hung the exhibition
Kingaroy Art Team secretary Julia Jeffery, from Wondai, and treasurer Pauline Smith, from Kingaroy

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