Tonight I launched the Maroondah Art Gallery’s latest exhibition, Konrad Winkler’s Moments of my Life and the Ringwood Art Society’s Artist of the Year.

Konrad is a Melbourne based photographer who explores the changing nature of photography and its relationship with extraordinary and everyday events.  Each piece is accompanied by a humorous recount of the event depicted in the photograph.

On display in the Muriel McGivern Room are the entrants from the Ringwood Arts Society Artist of the Year exhibition. The exhibition features work by twenty artists, who had to submit three pieces to enter the competition.

The entrants were assessed and judged by Walter Magilton, an independent adjudicator who announced the Artist of the Year and other works which were highly commended.

The Ringwood Art Society is one of Victoria’s oldest and largest art groups, with over 260 members.  The society was established in 1966 and provides art classes, outdoor painting excursions and highlights the strong interest in art and culture within Maroondah.

The Mayor of Maroondah is provided with an art acquisition fund and as Mayor I have decided that Council will be purchasing one of the artworks on display through the Ringwood Art Society.  Council is currently liaising with the artist but a full announcement will be made shortly.

The two exhibitions will be on display until the 8th of May. The Maroondah Art Gallery is based at Maroondah Federation Estate in Greenwood Avenue, Ringwood.

A copy of the speech I delivered at the opening of the exhibition is available within this post:

In the spirit of Reconciliation, we acknowledge that we are meeting on land for which the Wurundjeri people have been custodians for many centuries, and on land which the Indigenous Australians have performed age old ceremonies.

We, Maroondah City Council, accept, respect and have shared with the Wurundjeri people in their customs of welcome.

The Wurundjeri people support the coming together of all people, respecting their individuality to focus on a unified and cohesive nation.

I would like to welcome you all here tonight to the exhibition opening of Konrad Winkler – Moments of My Life, and the annual exhibition of the Ringwood Art Society – Artist of the Year.

In the J.A. Turner Room is an intriguing exhibition of photographs by Konrad Winkler who explores the relationship between photography and the everyday. By combining a mixture of significant and inconsequential daily events Winkler invites the viewer to reflect upon the reasons why we take particular photographs and the power of photography to transform our understanding about what is important in our lives.

In the main gallery we have the Ringwood Art Society Artist of the Year exhibition. With over 260 members, The Ringwood Art Society is recognized as one of Victoria’s oldest and largest art societies. Since its establishment in 1966, the continuing strength of the Society is a clear testament to the dedication of its members and management committee. As both an arts organisation and a ‘not for profit’ body, the Society’s capacity to service its members through art classes and outdoor painting excursions is extremely impressive and reflects the ongoing passion, dedication and commitment of all those involved. Council appreciates the important contribution the Society makes to the vibrancy and culture of Maroondah and is delighted to present the work of its talented members. The longevity of the Ringwood Art Society is a true reflection of just how much culture and artistic pride exists within our very own City of Maroondah.

The Artist of the Year exhibition features work by twenty artists, each represented by an outdoor scene, a still life and portrait work. Produced in an array of mediums, including oil, acrylic, ink, watercolour, pastel, charcoal and pencil, the works reveal the breadth of talent to be found in the Ringwood Art Society.

Last year the winner was Rosemary Price and three works by Rosemary are featured in the exhibition. This year the Official Judge is Walter Magilton and I will be inviting Walter to announce the winner of the 2010 Artist of the Year in a moment. And if you disagree with Walter you will have an opportunity to cast your vote in the People’s Choice. There is a ballot box and voting forms at the gallery desk and the artist whose artwork receives the most votes will be declared the winner of the People’s Choice Award at the end of the exhibition.

This year the standard of entries is outstanding and I would like to congratulate all the artists in tonight’s exhibition for their impressive paintings and works on paper. Again the stylistic diversity of the Society’s members is evident in this stunning collection of work.

I now invite Walter Magilton to announce the winner of the Ringwood Art Society 2010 Artist of the Year.