2023 Outback Archies is officially open with Outback Arts hosting an exhibition in Coonamble over the weekend with a crowd of artists, art lovers and community members attending to admire the amazing artists from around the region, and the theme ‘Legends and Landscapes’ that the artworks represent. 

The major Outback Archies prize for 2023 was awarded to Maree Kelly of Curlewis with ‘Min Min Lights in the Pilliga’. 

“I was thrilled to hear I had won the major award at this year’s Outback Archies,” said Ms. Kelly. “The team at Outback Arts do a great job in promoting the arts and it was lovely to be included in the exhibition. It’s a great way for regional artists to showcase their work, to further develop their artistic career and become of a broader arts community,” she said.   

“I especially liked this year’s theme ‘Legends and Landscapes’. Although I had painted the painting months before I knew the theme, and it was originally part of another exhibition, it just seemed perfect to enter this year as it matched the theme so well.”  

Jamie-Lea Trindall, Executive Director of Outback Arts is happy with the entries and event this year. 

‘We are thrilled with the number of entries this year,” said Mrs. Trindall. “The quality is high, and it made it a very difficult debate for the judges,” she said. 

“The Outback Archies are clearly a highlight on the arts calendar in Western NSW with such a wonderful opening celebration.” 

With nearly 100 pieces of art from across 17 shires in regional NSW, the exhibition pays tribute to the diverse artists in rural NSW, making the judging all that much harder with so many quality entries. 

PHOTO: Exec Director Jamie Lea Trindall with her daughters Elka and Lexie  

Judges Kent Buchanan, Curator at Western Plains Cultural Centre, Isabelle Morgan Curator of Contemporary Art at Campbelltown Arts Centre and Catherine Goldsmith, Independent Visual Art Teacher and Artist agreed they had their hands full with judging such high-quality artwork.  

Merren Turnbull of Bourke was the recipient of the Packing Room prize for her painting titled ‘Oxley Paddock’ and was thrilled to hear of her selection. 

“The painting is from one of our paddocks on the property where we live,” said Merren. “The paddock is covered in mostly clay pans, so is fairly barren in appearance most of the time. It has this little cluster of stunted trees on a high knob that break the landscape. The sunsets off this scape is always uninterrupted and Incredible.” 

“ I happened across the surprise feature of back lighting when I had it drying in front of a window. I knew then I had to incorporate the lighting that gives a rather realistic sunset.” 

“This painting was not for sale as it will be going in my own home to enjoy. I am starting to get the hang of acrylic now to some degree and although I didn’t sell this painting, I have picked up a couple of commissions which is great,” said Mrs. Turnbull. 

With award winners from Bourke, Lightning Ridge, Walgett, Coonamble, Brewarrina, Gilgandra, Curlewis, Tamworth, Warren, Narrabri and Gulargambone it was most definitely a vast cross section of artists taking part. 

The Outback Archies Exhibition will continue until October 27th, 2023, and in the mean-time regional artists will no doubt begin working on their pieces for 2024.  

Results 2023 Outback Archies  

Major Outback Archies Prize ‘Min Min Lights in the Pilliga’ by Maree Kelly of Curlewis.  

Packing Room Prize ‘Oxley Paddock’ by Merren Turnbull of Bourke 

Curators Award ‘Brolgas Living on Land’ Johanna Parker of Lightning Ridge  

The Aboriginal Art Prize was awarded to George Williams of Walgett for ‘Bokhara Huts’ 

PHOTO: George Williams  

Young Outback Archie’s Prize  

‘Bin Chicken’ by Peyton Johnson of Coonamble  

Photography  

1st ‘Carol & Paddy ’ by Naya Jeffries of Brewarrina 

2nd ‘The Last Reach’ by Georgia Ditchfield of Coonamble  

Two Dimensional  

1st ‘Just off the Walgett Road’ by Ana Robson of Coonamble  

2nd ‘Fierce Compassion of Gae Swain OAM’ by Belinda Sims of Emerald Hill  

PHOTO: Ana Robson Two dimensional winner  

Ceramics 

1st ‘Opal Fields’ by Kylie Lamph of Tamworth 

2nd ‘Gwen Hansen Pigott & Pippen Drysdale went for a walk in the Warrumbungles’ by Melissa Kelly of Gilgandra  

Sculpture 1st  

1st ‘Tools from Country’ by Matthew Kennedy of Coonamble 

2nd ‘Colours of Water’ by Jody Trindall of Narrabri  

Young Archie Primary  

1st ‘Teat Time’ by Mabel Ceeney of Warren  

2nd ‘Fireworks on the Canola’ by Lexie Trindall of Coonamble 

PHOTO: Kookie Atkins, Anna Kennedy, Jude Fleming  

Young Archie Secondary  

1st ‘Empty Silence’ by Amanda Roach of Gulargambone 

2nd ‘Happy Puppy’ by Lillian Warrington of Coonamble  

Young Curators Award  

‘King of the Dreamtime’ by Kaiierichah Annie Brown of Bourke 

Young Aboriginal Art Prize, Awarded to Remi Cohen of Coonamble for ‘Connecting to Country’