for the inspired reader
Biblio Art Prize 2023
(established 2009)
Grand Prize Shortlist:
YEN YEN LO with MSN BOY
Inspired by Search History by Amy Taylor
Judges' comments: There’s a poignancy to what Yen Yen Lo has chosen to represent from the book. The glazed glossy melting ice-cream with the biscuity crunchiness of the raw ceramic cone and the grotesque wonky face is an out of control dripping mess. The judges thought “MSN Boy” a playful and heartfelt “analog”response to the online world of the protagonist.
DON WALTERS with DRAWING FOR 'THE SETTLEMENT' BY JOCK SERONG
Judges' comments: When viewed from a distance, “Drawing for the Settlement” appears a familiar sepia-toned colonial coastal landscape. Closer inspection reveals the process of the making of the work - a painstaking build up of lines like seismic waves, each layer describing Australia’s evermore complex history.
GEOFF TODD with DIJBOUTI
Inspired by 'The Glass Abattoir' in JM Coetzee's The Pole & Other Stories
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Judges' comments: The judges responded to the power, the poetry and the ambiguity in this painting. The interwoven, tangled and angled legs and arms of the man and his goat make a strong composition. Is it a hold of comfort for the animal, or is it a struggle, a portent of the goats fate? There’s a lot going on in this painting. Confident in its choice of colour, and simple in its subject matter, it packs a punch.
GRAND PRIZE WINNER
GEOFF TODD with DIJBOUTI
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Storyteller Prize
The Blarney Books & Art Storyteller Prize was awarded to Rebecca Rowe for her work, 'Maelstrom'. We felt that with her sculptural piece she captured the feelings in Sophie Cunningham's novel This Devastating Fever of an overwhelming confluence of life and creative ideas, of an overflow of not only the richness of life but also of the obstacles, and the humour. It's a delightfully playful and thoughtful work.
Rebecca receives a cash prize of $1000.
ABOUT THE BIBLIO:
Artists enter the competition by submitting a registration with a one-off payment of $25. You are then allocated a random book title. You, the artist, will read the book, and then create an artwork inspired by it.
The actual book can be obtained from any source - it is not required that you purchase the book from Blarney Books & Art. It can be borrowed from the library (did you know authors receive royalties for library borrowings?). The point is that the book informs the artwork. Through this competition, we aim to highlight and support our Australian/NZ authors, and put books into your hands which you might not have otherwise picked up.
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Artists from anywhere across Australia and New Zealand are eligible. We encourage all artists to enter - from amateur to professional, young and old. Any and all mediums welcome.
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PLEASE NOTE: Artists 18 years old and under are welcome to enter without any entry fee, and are welcome to choose their own book (by an Australian author) to use as inspiration. In this case, you only need to complete the form at the time of submission (indicating your age).
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Artists have from the date of entry to end of October to complete their works. From the images submitted via our online submission forms over November, a selection will be made for our Summer exhibition. From those exhibited, the Grand Prize will be selected by independent judges, as well as a raft of other prizes (see below).
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2023 PRIZES
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GRAND PRIZE
(Non-acquisitive): $2000
Independent Judges: TBC
STORYTELLER'S PRIZE:
(Non-acquisitive) $1000
(Selected & sponsored by Blarney Books & Art)
RAINBOW PRIZE:
$500 cash prize donated by RWR McDonald
1 night Bed & Breakfast in a Queen Suite and dinner to $150
at Port Fairy's exclusive Merrijig Inn = total $350
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STARVING ARTIST'S PRIZE:
$250 cash prize from Coffin Sally Pizza
Grand High Tea for 2 at Time & Tide Tearooms
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YOUTH ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD:
$250 (Sponsored by Koroit's Laughing Halfpenny)
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FENNESSY FINE ART PRIZE:
2 nights accommodation at Killarney Beach Retreat
plus a painting or printmaking workshop with Ben.
(Value $1000)
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PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD:
$1000 (Votes taken throughout the length of the exhibition, counted and awarded at the close of the exhibition.)
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