The winners of the saso.creative Phantom Downunder Art Prize: The Phantom and the Australian Experience were announced at the opening of The Phantom Art Show in Coffs Harbour, at the Bunker Cartoon Gallery on Friday night.
Of the 30-odd entries, four finalists were chosen in the Open division, and three in the under-18 category. All these artworks are on display in the foyer of the Bunker Cartoon Gallery.
Judges of the Art Prize were prominent Australian artists Euan McLeod, Peter Kingston and Dietmar Lederwasch.
Sam Chapman, from Art Prize sponsor saso.creative, reports that judges "were thrilled with all entries, and were very positive about overall quality, interpretation and technique. While not everyone can win, I can say that there were a lot of very close calls."
Indeed, too close to call in the under 18 category! This was ultimately awarded a three-way split between Shailey Brown (17) for Smoko, Angus Fraser (7) for Phantom Shaker; and Anastasia Christie (13) for The Phantom. These youngsters were awarded a certificates and $100 each.
In the Open division however, a clear decision was made: John van der Kolk won with his sculpture Tuesday is Washing Day. John received the major prize of $1200. His entry was considered to be so impressive that the curators of the show have asked that his piece become part of the exhibition as it travels to its future destinations (Newcastle and Manly).
Highly commended certificates were awarded to Jan Paul for Mr Walker Does Dapto, Joel Tarling for Lord of the Jungle, and Robert Carter for Been Tough Too Long.
All of these will be on show at the Phantom Art Show at the Bunker during its Coffs Harbour leg.
All the entries that were received, many of which feature in the gallery below, will be displayed in the "Phantom Walk", a pop up gallery around shopfronts on Harbour Drive in Coffs Harbour through to mid-April, and then will be displayed in Coffs Central until around 8 May.
