Vicki Dunne MLA

Speaker of the Legislative Assembly for the ACT
Member for Ginninderra

Media Release
Tuesday 5 March 2013

GRADUATE VISUAL ARTISTS WIN EMERGING ARTIST AWARDS

The Assembly’s Speaker, Vicki Dunne, has announced the two graduate artists from the ANU School of Art who have been awarded the Legislative Assembly art prize in the emerging artist support scheme (EASS).

The EASS is an innovative program that connects corporate, institutional and individual patrons with talented artists graduating from the ANU School of Art.

‘2012 graduates, painter Elana Geddes and glass artist, now Honours student, Sara Hellsing are among the school’s most talented artists. I am very pleased to have been able to recognise their work and their talent with prizes of $500 each,’ Mrs Dunne said.

‘Elana’s winning work, "Francesca" is a stunning oil-on-canvas portrait of a friend. It captures much emotion and expression. I am very pleased that Emma has agreed for the work to be exhibited in the Assembly building.

‘Sara’s winning piece is a remarkable work of images of family history fused into glass. Happily for Sara that work has been sold overseas, so another of her works, "Recollections 1" hangs in the foyer of the Speaker’s Office.

‘Choosing the winners was a difficult task, undertaken during the graduating students’ exhibition at the School of Art last year. The choices were made from literally hundreds of high-quality works of every genre including woodwork, textiles, glass, pottery, photography and sculpture.

‘It is a testament to the level of interest there is in the visual arts in this country and a testament to the talent this country is turning out,’ said Mrs Dunne.

ENDS