Congratulations to Christine Druitt Preston, whose work Bouquet for Hazel has been selected as finalist in the 2023 Sunshine Coast Art Prize.
‘Bouquet for Hazel’ re-imagines an arrangement of cut flowers from the gardens of Hazelhurst cottage built in 1945 on the site where Hazelhurst Art Centre, Gymea now stands. Planted in the following years by the Hazel and Ben Broadhurst were flowerbeds of roses, dahlias, gladiolas, sweet peas, snapdragons, marigolds, pansies, and more roses. The curved drive was lined with hydrangeas, azaleas, and hibiscus. Flowering peach and plum trees gave colour. Daffodils, jonquils, bluebells, gladiolas, and belladonna lilies mixed with agapanthus followed the path of the creek.
In recalling a theme and composition made familiar by the Australian artist Margaret Preston, with this bouquet I hope to prompt a conversation between her practice and my own, while paying homage to the lineage of women artists on whose shoulders I stand. ~ Christine Druitt Preston 2023
The national Sunshine Coast Art Prize is a dynamic visual arts award reflecting outstanding contemporary 2D and new media arts practice in Australia. Now in its eighteenth year, the exhibition presents forty remarkable finalist works by artists from across the country.
The recipients of the Major prize, Highly Commended and Artist Residency will be determined by the Sunshine Coast Art Prize guest judge, Simon Elliott, Deputy Director, Queensland Art Gallery. The major prizewinning artwork will be acquired into the Sunshine Coast Art Collection.
Winners will be announced on 5 October 2023.
Exhibition Dates: 18 August until 15 October 2023.
Glasshouse Regional Gallery, Cnr Clarence and Hay Streets, Port Macquarie, NSW.
Image: Christine Druitt Preston | Bouquet for Hazel, 2022
(Hand-rubbed lino block print on wenzhou paper. 120 x 107cm)