By Tyler Wright
With over 230 entries — 75 being from artists under 20 years of age — The Emerald Arts Society’s annual art exhibition was a massive success in 2022.
Entrants under 20, under 15 and under 10 were able to enter enter into 14 categories along with adults including a new June Barnett still life category, showcasing work in acrylics, water colour, still life and photography.
Over 100 people attend the exhibition’s official opening night on Friday 28 October.
Emerald Arts Society president Glenn Hambleton said there was a lot more expressionism and abstract art in this year’s exhibition, a step away from more traditional-style paintings.
“It was a lot more brighter, a lot more expressionism, a lot more abstract.,” Hambleton said.
Hambleton said it was important to showcase the work of artists local to the Hills, and Melbourne, after the pandemic shut shown galleries and exhibitions across Victoria throughout the past two years.
“What a great opportunity for kids to be brave enough to put themselves out there, and put a painting or a photo or whatever it might be out there, and have it critiqued and then be told that it’s a wonderful piece of art.
“I think the arts is a very critical factor of community; one of the main threads for the community to be together.”
The Emerald Art Society’s annual exhibition closed on Tuesday 1 November, with some artists even able to sell their pieces.
“There was a couple [of artists] from New South Wales…we are trying to make it a bit more national,” Hambleton said.
