By DANIELLE GALVIN
EVERY painting and piece of artwork displayed at the Cardinia Cultural Centre last week for the Cardinia Grant Art Exhibition was treated as carefully as the Mona Lisa at the Louvre.
It was the first time the art expo was run in Pakenham by the not-for-profit Provenance Artists Society.
President of the society Calvin Bell said the art exhibition was organised by volunteer hobby and emerging artists.
“They did a fantastic job to create and present a premium art event of Victoria,” he said.
“We said we would put Cardinia on the art map and we certainly did that.
“We surpassed all our expectations expecting 300 or 400 entries and received 777 from throughout Victoria, interstate and international.”
Mr Bell said the Anzac section was “awe inspiring” with sensitive and emotional entries from artists as young as seven.
“We were honoured that John Wells the president of Dandenong/Cranbourne RSL judged the authenticity of the paintings and gave the introduction before the Last Post was played at the opening of the awards,” he said.
“Also, it was the first time Creative Woodart has been exhibited in an art show in Australia, with a very high standard exhibited from the Berwick Woodworkers.
“Ken Wraight’s Emperor’s Carriage, worth $34,000, won first prize and has previously been entered in Woodart exhibitions in the USA.”
The Kate Lempriere award to the next generation of student artists was an added feature.
“The Baldest Archy, a spinoff from The Archiebald, and Baldarchy, a fun satirical representation of the famous and infamous, was a huge success with visitors,” Mr Bell said.
“We were the first show in Australia to have a dedicated section to Scratchboard sponsored by Ampersand USA.
“We as an art group are extremely happy with the positive feedback from visitors, one lady, in particular, stating ‘it’s the best art show I’ve been to in a long, long time’.”
Vice-president of the society Judy Owen said members were “impressed and stoked” with the entrants’ work.
She said she was particularly moved by one piece of artwork in the Anzac category.
“It was a soldier wearing a gas mask painted by an eight or 10-year-old,” Ms Owen said.
“When you see something like that you just think – wow.”
