Sally Selmingham and Bonnie Halligan with the 2011 Not The Archies award-winning portrait. 67672
YARRA Glen artist Sally Selmingham didn’t realise that she had been shortlisted for the Not The Archies until she received her invitation to the awards night at the RACV Club on Wednesday, 13 July.
“It’s nice to have someone say your work is good … someone other than family,” was Ms Selmingham’s immediate response after being announced the inaugural winner of the Not The Archies award.
Six-year-old Healesville artist Siena Chisholm accepted the award for the Under 18 section of the competition, saying she was surprised and excited.
The RACV ballroom was crowded with the artists and their subjects, along with well-wishing family and friends, in what was a spectacular launch befitting the name “Archie”.
Some 218 portraits of local people were submitted which, in true Archibald tradition, was narrowed down by guest judges Maudie Palmer, acting director of TarraWarra Museum of Art, and Archibald finalist Peter Wegner, to 41 finalists.
Yarra Ranges Mayor Terry Avery said Yarra Ranges Council initiated the project in support of the Archibald Prize exhibition coming to the shire.
“Not The Archies has offered a great chance for the local community to engage with the spirit of the Archibald Prize by celebrating great local Australians through the art of portraiture,” he said.
The portraits are displayed in shop windows throughout Healesville and Yarra Glen.
Guest MC, Michael Vietch, announced the finalists as their paintings flashed up on the big screen.
Ms Palmer said it had been a difficult task to choose artists and award prizes and had therefore included commendations – Eliza Owen for ‘Jay’ and Billanook College student James for ‘mum’ in the Under 18 section and Jessie Gilbert-Hunt for ‘dad’ and Ian Whitford for his self-portrait.
Barry O’Brien was awarded the Traders’ Award, and Savannah Laird won the People’s Choice Award.
Ms Palmer predicted a big future for Siena.
“I was totally grabbed by this work, as indeed Peter was,” she said.
“I can assure you this young lady is going to be a winner of an Archibald.”
Of Ms Selmingham’s portrait of her friend Bonnie Halligan, she said the work had great resonance.”
Ms Selmingham said Bonnie was the first person she thought of when she was encouraged to submit a portrait.
“She has the most beautifully, interesting face that shows she has a lot of life experience, ups and downs, but you can tell by looking at her that, no matter, she is still a sweet, sweet lady.”
Ms Selmingham dedicated the award to her mother, Toolangi ballet teacher Barbara Hayles who she said was winning her fight with cancer.
