An artistic explanation

• Kathy Crawford, Shurlee Dobson and Jake Frost enjoyed opening night.

June 14, 2023

Patrons along for the opening of the North-East Arts and Crafts exhibition were given a cooks tour of the judging process for the winning entries.

Chief judge former Scottsdale resident Geoff Dobson abandoned the stage to lead the audience on a walk around the display at the Mechanics Institute with a running commentary on aspects of the chosen works.

Mr Dobson, now director of the Devonport Regional Gallery, allowed those present an added appreciation of the art and the judging of it.

Stopping before the winning work by John Gibb, Mr Dobson said the naturalist painting, captured the exhibition theme of stages of life in that it showed old decaying trees and young growth replacing them.

“When you look here you can almost hear the trickling of the water and see some bugs plopping on the pool.”

The painter himself said his sixth winning entry in the prestigious annual show was the result of his painting his memoirs.

Titled “Ancient Sentinels of the Pool of Siloam, Walls of Jerusalem” it shows one of his favourite places.

“I did lot of bushwalking up in that area from the early 1970s.

“My health means I’m not going to make in back there now, so, as I say, I’m painting my memoir now based on hundreds of photos and slides.

“I like the challenge of capturing water in a painting, especially the reflection and refraction.”

Mr Gibb said he was humbled to have won again and said he expected some of his former art students might look into the painting trying to find a mysterious figure like a triantiwantagong lurking in the foliage.

“I used to hide a set of eyes in some paintings over the years, but I think they’ll be disappointed this time.”

Organisers of the exhibition said there was a constant flow of people through the hall, with 14 of the 120 pieces on show sold.

• Chief judge Geoff Dobson explains nuances in a miniature painting that was honourably mentioned.