National art award
Wednesday, 6 October 2010
Award winners take a close look at the Good Samaritan
St John of God Health Care’s sponsorship of
the Mandorla Art Award, Australia’s most significant themed
contemporary religious art prize, saw the winners announced at the
recent opening in Fremantle.
Group Chief Executive Officer, Dr Michael
Stanford, presented the St John of God Health Care Prize of $20,000
to acclaimed artist Annette Allman, and the inaugural St John of
God Health Care Prize for an Emerging Young Artist of $5,000 to the
fresh talent of Emma Itzstein.
Both artists delivered a thought-provoking
interpretation of this year’s theme of spiritual inspiration, the
15th since the award’s 1985 inception, “And who is my
neighbour?” taken from the Good Samaritan parable (Luke 10:
25-37).
Annette’s winning work, “Caring in a Competitive
World”, was described by judge, Sr Jill O’Brien of the Good
Samaritan Order of St Benedict, as developing the spirit of the
story while grounding it in a contemporary journey of competitive
sports and the suburban experience.
Sr Jill said: “It vigorously
underscores the need to respond to others with compassion, no
matter the cost, even if the crowd has turned its back.”
19-year-old Emma’s youth award work,
“Neighbour X”, was described by the judges as taking an abstracted
view to understanding the dignity of the individual. It challenges
us to look beneath the aesthetic image and the lens the next time a
neighbour asks for our help.
Dr Stanford said support of the arts is an
integral part of our community engagement and that the timing of
our sponsorship was particularly appropriate given the theme is the
common founding story for the health care, citing no less an
authority than two Popes.
He said that as a large organisation and a
major employer, St John of God Health Care has an important
responsibility to be a significant participant in activities that
serve to strengthen community life, including the arts.
“I was particularly excited to see the work of the
youth finalists as our support of this particular award
particularly reflects our commitment to working with young people
in the community through our Social Outreach and Advocacy program,”
Dr Stanford said.
The Mandorla Art Award has attracted some of
Australia’s finest artists since its inception in 1985. This year
was no exception, with 60 entries in the main award and eight in
the youth award, coming from artists based in Western Australia,
Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
A selection of art work will be exhibited at our
Perth-based hospitals in Subiaco and Murdoch from 20 to 26 October,
and then at the New Norcia Benedictine, when the winner of the
People’s Choice Award will be announced.
The Mandorla also attracted sponsorship from the
Catholic, Anglican and Uniting Churches, as well as the Benedictine
Community of New Norcia.