Judges ready for 2016 Mary Valley Art Festival

Ian Gunn

Ian Gunn

Sunshine Coast artist Ian Gunn joins fellow coast artist Don Milner in the challenging task of sorting the winners from the many entries in the 2016 Mary Valley Art Festival.  The judges will soon arrive in Imbil in the Mary Valley to select the best works in time for the gala opening and presentation evening on Thursday June 30.

Mr Gunn counts the $15,000 2012 Kenilworth Painting Prize among his accolades, and was also a finalist in the recent Noosa Art Award and the 2015 Lethbridge 10,000 art award in Brisbane.  He believes everyone should be able to have great quality art, original paintings or prints, in whatever space they are in, be it home or work, which has prompted his venture into producing archival quality artwork prints.

Don Milner says painting and creating are his passions, with Australia offering him a rich source of inspiration for his artistic endeavours.  He chooses themes and subjects from this rich and unique way of life, its characters and scenery, all of which inspire, colour and enrich his world as an artist.  Mr Milner won “Best of Show” and “Best Landscape – Best Still Life” at the 2013 Moore Art Awards & Exhibition, Queensland. He also placed third in the 2014 Andrew Fisher Portrait Prize, Gympie.

Entries closed last week  for the Mary Valley Art Festival, and the organising committee from Mary Valley Artslink is preparing to set up the Imbil Public Hall for the gala opening event on Thursday June 30 at 6pm.  The festival continues on July 1-3 with viewing from 10am-3pm daily as well as demonstrations by local artists.

Don Milner

Don Milner

Total prize money has topped $7000 with returning support from Bendigo Bank’s Gympie and District Community Bank, Twin Bunya Park and the Mary Valley Chamber of Commerce.
The popular People’s Choice Award on Sunday of the festival – July 3 – offers a $300 prize. It will be awarded alongside the Bush Haven Youth Art Awards from 1pm, with a celebratory closing of the annual event.  Phone 0409 382868 to find out more or email info@maryvalleyartfestival.com.au

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