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Moran Portraiture Prize Exhibition returns next week

The Moran Portraiture Prize Exhibition returns to Kernot Hall Friday 11 May for a sixteen day season.

By Latrobe City Council - 2nd May 2001 - Back to News

The Moran Portraiture Prize Exhibition returns to Kernot Hall Friday 11 May for a sixteen day season.

Traditionally thirty pieces of work have been chosen as finalists, but the judges considered the standard of entries so high for the Year 2000 prize, that the judges selected an unprecedented thirty-two. Finalists from New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia were chosen from over six-hundred entries for the $132,000 prize, and all thirty-two works will be featured in the exhibition.

The Year 2000 Finalists Exhibition is the sixth visit to the Latrobe Valley since the inception of the Doug Moran art prize, and Latrobe is the only regional area in Victoria to present the works.

Latrobe City Mayor, Councillor Brendan Jenkins, said the Moran family had warmed to the hospitality and enthusiasm of the Latrobe community in 1988 when the first exhibition toured, and particularly to the work put into making the exhibition a success by Latrobe City’s Cultural Planner Di Goulding. Since then, Latrobe had become a ‘must’ in the scheduling of the exhibition.

"Since its inception, the prize has grown steadily in stature to become one of the most important events in Australian contemporary art. The $132,000 prize attracts artists of all styles, ages and cultural backgrounds and continues to attract both emerging and established artists," Cr Jenkins said.

"Latrobe City Cultural Planner, Di Goulding, said that the exceptionally high standard of entries had led to this year’s Australian judges, Art Gallery of South Australia Director Ron Radford, and distinguished Sydney artists Dr Margaret Olley, AO, choosing an additional two finalists.

"The Doug Moran Portrait Prize is not only about public portraits of well known and recognisable sitters, as is the Archibald Prize, but has a more democratic intent in exploring the character and individuality of ordinary Australians," Ms Goulding said.

"The judging process focuses entirely on quality, with no restriction on the identity or prominence of the sitter. In many cases the subject is well known to the artist.

"Subjects chosen by the finalists for their portraits this year include comedian Mikey Robins, radio talkback host John Laws, lawyer Otto Stichter and poet Les Murray, who appears twice," Ms Goulding said.

"During its visit to Latrobe, the Moran Prize exhibition is seen by hundreds of visitors, and is well-loved by schoolchildren," Ms Goulding added.

The Moran Prize Exhibition is sponsored by the Moran Health Care Group Ltd, and established in 1988 by Mr Doug Moran to celebrate Australia’s Bicentenary.

The Exhibition will be open to the public daily including weekends 10am-6pm from Friday 11 May until Sunday 26 May. Admission is by gold coin donation.

Further information is available from Di Goulding at Latrobe City on 1300 367 700.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: latrobecity@gippslander.com

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