The 2024 South East Art Society’s Open Arts Awards exhibition has come to an end, with Ma Victoria Puiatti claiming the People’s Choice Award.
The exhibition, held at the Millicent Gallery, concluded with taking down and packing up all of the 107 artworks, as well as the important task of counting the votes for the Peoples’ Choice Award, the final prize of the competition.
Millicent’s Ma Victoria Puiatti won the people’s choice award for her painting titled “dualis veritas”.
SEAS committee member Di Ashworth said the prize, along with all of those presented at the opening, would not be possible without the huge support of sponsors.
“Thanks again to the Bendigo Bank, who sponsor the major award; the local councils of Mount Gambier City and Grant District; local businesses Phoenix Lending and Kimberly-Clark; several individual and family donors; and SEAS patron Tony Pasin,” she said.
“The Open Art Awards this year was another big success, due in no small part to the fabulous support of the Millicent Gallery and in particular, Janice Nitschke.
“Not only her amazing enthusiasm and expertise, but also generosity in providing wine and flowers for the opening and judges.
“Thank you, and we’re looking forward to doing it all again with Millicent Gallery in September next year.”
Ms Ashworth said in the meantime. SEAS members should pop their artistic caps on and start thinking about the Members’ Exhibition to be held at the Riddoch from April 2025.
“The title is ‘The Woodcutter’ and as the name suggests, will be about all things wood – such as carvings, works on wood, depictions of trees or timber, works on paper or of paper, charcoal etc. Anything really that is from, about or using wood,” she said.
