On Saturday 17 September, around 30 artists, art lovers and community members gathered at the Outback Arts gallery to celebrate the official opening of the 2022 Outback Archies.

Eighty artworks, all under the overarching theme of 'Legends and Landscapes', are featured in the exhibition, showcasing the diverse and widespread talent of our region's artists.

Outback Arts Executive Director, Jamie-Lea Trindall said, “The joy the Outback Archies brings to such an extended audience each year is remarkable, as is the quality and diversity of entries. Its success is a credit to our region's artists that continue to inspire others to keep creating.”

With entrants from across seventeen Local Government Areas, competition was tough this year across the four major artwork categories - Photography, Sculpture, Ceramics and Two Dimensional.

Those attending the official opening were blown away by not only the sheer amount of entries in this year's Outback Archies exhibition, but also the level of skill and creativity demonstrated by the entrants.

First place of the Photography category was awarded to Adam Edwards of Broken Hill for his image titled 'Derelict', whilst second place went to George Williams of Walgett for 'Stand by Me'.

In Two Dimensional, the first prize place went to Merren Turnbull of Bourke for her pastel artwork, 'Life Blood of the Outback', with second place going to Corey Brooks of Bourke for 'A Moment Between Dances'.

The Ceramics category was won by Kylie Lamph from Tamworth (formerly Carinda) with her jug-shaped vessel titled 'Parched'.

Second place was awarded to local Coonamble artist, Anna Kennedy for her piece 'Landscape on a Vase' which incorporated the textures of found leaves and twigs.

Gilgandra-based artists dominated the Sculpture category this year, with the first place prize going to Brendon Schembri for his large-scale metal artwork titled 'Take Me', and second place going to Melissa Kelly with her piece 'Little Wild Thing'.

PHOTO: Melissa Kelly with her work titled ‘Little Wild Thing’.

The judging panel found this year's youth entries for the Young Outback Archies especially challenging, resulting in an equal first place being awarded in the Primary School category.

The winners were Pollyanna Wass from Warren for her work 'Vase of Flowers', and local girl, Lexie Trindall for her painting 'The Dam at Dark Time'.

Winner of the Secondary School category was none other than Coonamble's man of many talents, Patrick Forbes for his ceramic work titled, 'Yarning with Nan Bertha'.

PHOTO: Patrick Forbes with his prizewinning piece ‘Yarning with Nan Bertha.’

Second place was awarded to Charli White of Warren for her collage on paper titled 'The Arizona'.

The judging panel, which consisted of Phil Aitken (Education Officer at Western Plains Cultural Centre),  Hannah James (Assistant Curator of Visual Arts at Campbelltown Arts Centre), and Biance Edmundson (Secondary Visual Art Teacher), were also motivated to award Walgett siblings, Hilda and Darcy Hartog, a Young Curators award for their portraits of their parents.

Abigail McLaughlin from Warren was awarded the Open Curators Award for her landscape painting titled 'Duck Creek #1'.

The Aboriginal Art Prize for this year was awarded to Coonamble's own Young Archies entrant Remi Cohen who expressed the exploration of her cultural identity through both her entries.

Anna Kennedy also won a Packing Room prize, which was awarded by the staff who unpacked and installed the exhibition, for her piece 'A Big Enduring Prayer for Country'.

The overall Outback Archies winner, who the judges deemed to have explored and represented the theme at the highest level through a well-resolved artwork, was awarded to George Williams of Walgett for his emu egg carving titled 'Acknowledging of Identity'.

Viewers have the opportunity to vote for their favourite artwork for the People's Choice award, which will be announced at the close of the exhibition at the end of October.