Cartoonist wins art prize
26 Oct 2010
Cartoonist David Rowe has swapped sketching for brushstrokes to take out the major prize in The Mission to Seafarers’ 2010 ANL Maritime Art Prize.
Mr Rowe won $15,000 for his work titled Dockside at the official launch of the exhibition at The Mission to Seafarers in Flinders St, Docklands, on October 8.
David said he based his work on several “old fellas” he’s seen while walking to work past the Sydney fish markets over the years. A cartoonist for 20 years, David decided to turn his hand to painting after being inspired by his partner who has been a regular contributor to the award.
“It was a large experiment for me,” David said. “I have been doing 20cm square cartoons for 20 years so actually painting on a large scale is quite difficult.”
David, who lives at Wombarra, north of Wollongong, said he was especially chuffed to have won such an iconic charity award. “It’s one of the few art prizes that helps the seafarers and it’s something quite close to my heart,” he said.
The $5000 prize from the ASP Ship Management Group for the artwork judged Best in Traditional Maritime Art was awarded to Betina Fauvel-Ogden for her work titled Docklands.
Betina’s love affair for docks, seafarers and the sea is evident in her oil painting and stems from her own heritage, as a descendant of a long line of seafarers.
A $500 Highly Commended Award from the Maritime Heritage Association of Victoria for the work judged Best Representation of Victorian Maritime Heritage was awarded to Epping artist Julian Bruere for his watercolour piece, Mahogany Ship, based on the fabled Portuguese caravel.
As part of the International Year of the Seafarer, adventurer Jesse Martin - who is still the youngest sailor ever to cross opposite points of the globe in a single around-the-world solo and unassisted voyage – officially opened the exhibition as Ambassador for The Mission to Seafarers Victoria.
Jesse said the mission had been providing a home-away-from-home for seafarers visiting Melbourne ports since 1857 with practical resources and welfare support.
“I understand and know about the loneliness of being at sea for long periods of time away from family and friends, as all seafarers are,” Jesse said. “I therefore urge you all to support this exhibition of wonderful maritime art in order to help The Mission to Seafarers carry out this most important work.”
The $2000 award for the World Trade Centre-sponsored People’s Choice Award was to be announced at the end of October.
Since 2002, The Mission to Seafarers Victoria art prize has exhibited the work of over 700 artists while the organisation has also raised about $180,000 toward the provision of seafarers’ services in Victoria.
For more information call 9629 7083 or visit http://www.missiontoseafarers.com.au
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