Cooma’s Raglan Gallery came alive with artistic vigour on Saturday, June 14, as it hosted the opening event of its much-anticipated Heads Up Portrait Competition. The exhibition was a resounding success, drawing in a large crowd of artists, portrait sitters, art enthusiasts, and community members eager to witness the array of talent on display.
PHOTO: “Tiger Bobbins” by Tracey Romans – 1st prize – Heads Up competition CREDITS: Wendy McDougall – Raglan Gallery
The spotlight of the event was the captivating collection of portraits all of local Monaro identities. The competition’s judges, Lucy Culliton and Denise Ferris, had the honours of selecting the winners from a pool of extraordinary entries. Despite the difficult task of picking winners, the judges were unanimous in their decisions, commending the technical prowess and engaging qualities of the chosen artworks.
Tracey Romans emerged victorious with her enchanting portrait titled “Tiger Bobbins”, earning her the top prize. Kiarna Murnane captured the second prize with a heartfelt depiction of her brother, followed by Andrew Dawes, whose exceptional skill shone through in his entry, “Dorothy Venables – Survivor”, which secured him the third position.
PHOTO: “Luscious Lips” by Kiarna Murnane – 2nd prize Heads Up competition
The Youth Award was won by Jaymes McLean for his portrait “Nick”, while a Highly Commended Award in the Youth category was awarded to Stanley Smith for his striking self-portrait. Alexandra Weare received an Encouragement Award in the Open section for her piece, “KL by AW”.
The awards were presented by special guest Imants Tillers, adding an extra touch of distinction to the event. Attendees were encouraged to participate in choosing their favourite piece for the People’s Choice Award, which will be announced on July 20, the final day of the exhibition.
PHOTO: “Dorothy Venables – Survivor” by Andrew Dawes – 3rd prize Heads Up competition
In her statement, Wendy McDougall, a board member of Raglan Gallery, expressed immense gratitude to all participants and noted that the event had far exceeded expectations, possibly marking it as one of the best-attended openings despite Cooma’s chilly winter weather.
HEADS UP PORTRAIT PRIZE – WINNERS
– Winner: “Tiger Bobbins” by Tracey Romans
– 2nd Prize: “Luscious Lips” by Kiarna Murnane
– 3rd Prize: “Dorothy Venables – Survivor” by Andrew Dawes
– Youth Winner: “Nick” by Jaymes McLean
– Highly Commended Youth: “Stanley” by Stanley Smith
– Open Encouragement Award: “KL by AW” by Alexandra Weare
Congratulations to all the talented artists who contributed to this spectacular exhibition.