The St Martins Lutheran College 2023 Art Show kicked off with a packed opening night at The Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre.
Exhibiting students, family, friends and staff celebrated the show’s opening with an awards ceremony and live performances, delivered by college students.
In between formalities, the estimated 150 guests toured the exhibition – an impressive collection of artworks spanning themes, mediums and year levels.
Guest judge April Hague, a local contemporary visual artist, said she was astounded at the level of creativity.
“First walking into the room, the impression I had was really good. Everything just looks amazing, the standard and the quality is really amazing,” Ms Hague said.
“I’m just astounded at the level of creativity. “I had a lot of trouble trying to judge the best print. [I’m] a bit of a fan of digital art and that was quite a tough section.”
Ms Hague said the most coveted award of the night, the ‘Best in Show’ was particularly difficult to judge.
“I just could not split the two pieces that I selected for Best in Show, they just blew me away,” she said.
Year 12 student Levi Newton’s large chocolate sculpture of Mickey Mouse and Year 11 student Angus Patterson’s detailed ink on scroll shared the top honour.
“I could just see the amount of time that had gone into both of those pieces and the level of detail in the drawing was astounding … both works were very impressive,” Ms Hague said.
“And with the sculpture, it’s amazing. I just look at it and go, ‘How did you do that? Where did you come up with that idea?’
The exhibition is open to the public in the King’s Gallery at The Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre until tomorrow.
Viewers have the opportunity to vote on their favourite artwork in the ‘People’s Choice’ Award, announced once the exhibition has closed.
Levi and Angas also won the best senior school artwork, with Levi winning best sculpture and Angas claiming best drawing.
Other award winners included Emma Johnson winning the best middle school artwork, best painting Piper Chant, best design work Kaelan Mee, best print Rachel Lindsay, best film/animation Japneet Bhullar and Genevieve Ashby, best video/film Lauren Agnew, best mixed media Amelia Biasibetti, best photograph Jenna Jagger and most creative photographic collection Mila Wauchope.
