Awards and Prizes

Western Australia has a New National Art Prize (and Peter Ciemitis Won One of Them)

Awards and Prizes, Collie Art Prize 2020, Exhibitions, national exhibitions, painting, portraits, Uncategorized
Print

ES + ID by Peteris Ciemitis acrylic on canvas ©

In March 2020, Peter Ciemitis celebrated winning the second prize in the 2020 Collie Art Prize; a $5,000 prize including an exhibition at the Collie Art Gallery in 2021.

The prize was recently created by the Shire of Collie, after investing in building one the State’s most recent A-Class galleries; the Collie Art Gallery.  To match the vision of building a National standard gallery, the Shire went on to create a National Art Prize to go with it. The 2020 Collie Art Prize attracted approximately 400 entries from around Australia, and appointed the highest calibre of national judges to select the winners.

There is no greater honour than to be selected as a prize recipient by an erudite and eminent panel of judges: Carl Altmann MA, Emeritus Professor Sasha Grishin AM, and Ted Snell, AM, CitWA.

The Award winners were: 1st Prize ($50,000) Mary-Lynne Stratton for her work ”Ranges around Ross River NT”, equal 2nd Prize (each $5000 plus complementary exhibitions at the Gallery) WA artist Peteris Ciemitis for his work ‘ES+ID’ and Queensland artist Brian Robinson for his lino print  ‘Bedhan Lag: Land of the Kalwalagal’, and 3rd Prize ($4,000) Olga Cironis for her work ‘Breath’

Congratulations to fellow award and highly commended recipients, and all finalists shortlisted in this major Regionally based and Nationally significant art prize.

WA Print Media Awards 2012

Awards and Prizes, Contemporary Printmaking, Exhibitions, jillian ciemitis, Printmaking, Uncategorized
Jillian Ciemitis Winner WA Print Media Awards 2012
Jillian Ciemitis receives award from City of Swan, Mayor Charlie Zannino

September, 2012

Jillian Ciemitis received the Western Australian Print Makers Association Excellence Award for her hand printed screen print “Exterieur Interieur”.  The work was the outcome of her 2011 photographic exploration of the Louvre, Paris and was regarded as a contemporary reinterpretation of traditional themes and forms.

Portrait of a Man as if he Were Air

Awards and Prizes, Black Swan Portrait Prize, Exhibitions, painting, peteris ciemitis, portraits, Uncategorized
blackswan
Mountaineer Patrick Hollingworth with painting
“Portrait of a Man as if he Were Air”

September 16 – 26, 2011

During his successful 2010 climb of Mount Everest, mountaineer and scientist, Patrick Hollingworth provided daily updates to his website with great honesty and candour. His willingness during the climb to openly discuss his previous experiences with depression, and the subsequent raising of awareness for men’s health issues, contributed to Patrick’s expedition being widely followed.

One year later, Patrick once again entered the unfamiliar terrain of public attention when his painted likeness; “Portrait of a Man as if he Were Air” by Peteris Ciemitis was announced a finalist in the prestigious Black Swan Portrait Prize.

“In the painting, there are obvious expressions of self doubt, resolve and strength.  But the image also is layered with ideas of the mountain, of death on the mountain, of ice, of life and biology, of lines of thought and intellect.  Mostly it is about conditions; the constant flux of the environment, the light, cold and fury within which one becomes subsumed as if one were part of it … as if one were just air.”

The Black Swan Prize
Perth Town Hall, Perth, Australia

 

 

 

Peteris Ciemitis is awarded Black Swan Portrait Prize 2010

Awards and Prizes, Black Swan Portrait Prize, painting, peteris ciemitis, portraits, Uncategorized
© 'Archer' 2010 acrylic on linen Peteris Ciemitis

© ‘Archer’ 2010 acrylic on linen Peteris Ciemitis

September 23, 2010

Peteris Ciemitis has received the Black Swan Prize for his portrait of Australian performer, festival director and arts advocate Robyn Archer.  Judges comprised Artrinsic Board Member, Carl Altmann; former Chair of the Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA), Helen Cook and Director of the AGWA, Stefano Carboni, who remarked: “The colours are subtle while the finer details are suggestive of the underlying structure of the sitter’s features.  In addition, there is that delightful essential which is the assured ability to draw.  It was Michelangelo who maintained that before one could paint, one must be able to draw, which means that the artist has to be skilled in observation and engagement with the sitter.  The painting invites the viewer to come in close as though to examine the landscape of the face.”

The 2010 Black Swan Prize drew extensive National entries, and hung 42 finalists reflecting work by leading artists from each State.  In recognition of its rapid ascent, the Prize was also the subject of a documentary production.

View an excerpt from the documentary here: