Winners of Ephemeral Art Trail announced

The winner - Where The Seeds Were Born by Kasia Niedzielak

The main prize winners in the Pearl Beach Ephemeral Art Trail (PBEAT) in the Arboretum have been announced but there is still time to vote for the People’s Choice award.

The main prizes were awarded at the event opening on Saturday, September 23, judged by Director of Bundanon Trust Ann Flanagan and presented by Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch.

The opening included a smoking ceremony by Tim Selwyn from Girri Girra and a Welcome to Country by Guringai elder Aunty Tracey Howie.

Tim Selwyn with Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch at the smoking ceremony Photo: Duncan Bridel

The winning prize of $3,000 for the best installation went to Kasia Niedzielak, an emerging artist from Umina Beach, for Where the Seeds Were Born.

“Kasia’s work comprises multiple elements eloquently sited in Little Pleasance grove,” Flanagan said.

“As a visitor, you capture glimpses of her floating pod forms from a distance (and) are enticed to enter the grove.

“The seed pods choreograph the site; they talk to each other to create a performative space.

“The suspended seed pods are felted with wool and plant fibres and gently float and rotate in the landscape.

“It is a playful work, beautifully crafted – an ephemeral piece that enriches and animates your arboretum visit.”

Highly Commended Awards of $1,000 each went to Georgina Galea for her tender work, Falling, and local sculptor Jonathan Grose, assisted by Hannah and Asher, for Bowerbird Blues – an interactive work which encourages you to step inside.

Commendations went to: Bird Play by Penny Simmons and Hobart Hughes, a playful, engaging collaborative work; We did it with the Best Intentions by Jojo Fuller which confronts dependence on fossil fuels and the damaged environment; and Elephant in the Room by Andrew Alter – alluding to an obvious problem or situation that we don’t want to talk about.

Elephant in the Room by Andrew Alter

Alter involved Wildlife SOS and his ephemeral elephant points directly to the dislocation of animal habitats.

For the first time this year there was a prize for younger artists aged under 16.

There was no overall winner in this category but three commendations of $75 were awarded to: Jessie, aged 12, for The Bee is Life; to Eve, aged 11, for The Catastrophe; and to Skye, aged 10, for The Coral Garden.

The PBEAT inaugural School Award of $250 went to Year 9 art students from St Joseph’s Catholic College at East Gosford for Wilderness Warriors.

PBEAT is open until Sunday, October 15, with more than 20 highly creative works on display in the Pearl Beach Arboretum.

A donation of $5 per adult is requested for a Trail Guide and the chance to vote for the People’s Choice Award, to be announced at the Beatles Rebooted Concert on Saturday, October 7, at 2.30pm. Tickets for this event are available at beatlesrebooted.eventbrite.com.au

PBEAT 2023 is sponsored by Belle Property Central Coast, Girri Girra Tours and a Central Coast

Council Community Support Grant.

Source:
Crommelin Native Arboretum