Dahlstrom to judge Leongatha Rotary Art and Photography Show

LEONGATHA Rotary Club’s Art and Photography Show will again prove popular as it takes over the town’s Memorial Hall with a wide range of artistic mediums and styles and works by artists from across Gippsland and further afield.

The event is a major fundraiser for the Rotary Club, supporting projects locally, nationally and internationally.

Over 630 works will be on show, with $7300 worth of prizes across 16 award categories.

Inverloch artist Ray Dahlstrom is this year’s judge and is looking forward to the challenge.

Although he has judged art shows elsewhere, he’s never tackled so many categories.

“I’ve got the best part of a day to do it,” Ray said, acknowledging a lot of the process is “subjective”.

He said as a non-trained artist he may bring a different perspective to that of some other judges.

“As long as you can justify your choices, hopefully everyone walks away happy,” Ray said.

“A lot of my work is about telling a story and when I look at a painting, I want it to tell me something and give me some insight on how people see the world and be more than a technically brilliant picture.”

Ray shifted focus in his own art after surviving the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009, placing an emphasis on raising issues about the causes of change to our environment. 

Some of his works highlight the potential impact of climate change on the ocean in his local region, including the loss of many sea animals.

Ray’s family property at Steels Creek in the Yarra Valley was destroyed in the fires, along with around 100 paintings completed over 25 years.

He works mainly in oils.

Ray said that being asked to judge such a large and well-established art show is an honour.

The Art & Photography Show’s Chair David Panther spoke of the late David John, who previously filled the role, lamenting his loss and saying he has left big boots to fill.

He noted the “explosion of entries”, saying this year has set a record.

It’s the third year in which the event is being held at the Memorial Hall and during the Christmas holiday period.

It previously took place in spring at Mesley Hall, then just a three-day event, but now extending over three weeks.

The expanded event requires an army of keen volunteers to succeed.

David said that in addition to the team of Rotary members and partners, many artists have put up their hands to fill shifts.

The hard-working committee starts preparation a few months ahead of the show.

Being one of Gippsland’s largest art shows, possibly the biggest, the event attracts a mix of sponsors and individual donors.

Attendees will be able to snap up artworks and photos that take their fancy, and they might even take home a prize-winning piece.

“Every item is judged and every one is available for sale,” David said.

Rotary earns a commission on each work sold, boosting its fundraising total and enabling it to contribute to an array of important projects.

In addition to the works of experienced artists, young locals are encouraged to be part of the show, with an expanded emphasis on youth entries through Leongatha schools and other organisations such as Yooralla.

Details:

Where: Leongatha Memorial Hall

When: January 14 until February 4.  Artwork is judged on January 13, with the event opening to the public the following day.

How much: It costs just $5 for adults and kids are free.