Our 2nd Annual WONDERLAND ART FESTIVAL was held for 7 days from Monday 30th November through to Sunday 6th December, this time without the throng of people from Sculptures By The Sea. With COVID lurking in the background, this years event was not easy to organise, but we showed that WONDERLAND ART FESTIVAL is perfectly capable of running its own stand alone event as we attracted over 200 visitors into the festival every day… with a total attendance exceeding 1400 visitors.
Paula Masselos (Mayor of Waverley Council) stands by as Tim Murray (Tamarama SLSC President) presents Josephine Sukkar AM (Buildcorp CEO) with a Certificate of Appreciation as Sponsor of the 2nd Annual WONDERLAND ART FESTIVAL
We attracted over 33 brilliant artists exhibiting their work, with over 60% of exhibitors achieving sales. The total value of artworks sold by our artists exceeded an amazing $30,000, with an extraordinary 70+ works of art finding new homes!!! Our highest volume of works sold by a single artist was 21 pieces; the highest sale was $2,800 and the most amount sold by a single exhibitor was $3,300.
SPONSOR
This year our event partner for Wonderland Art Festival was BUILDCORP, who are involved in a number of community building renovations including the Tamarama Residential Apartments and the Bondi Pavilion. A very big thank you to Josephine Sukkar (CEO) and the team at BUILDCORP for their most generous support, with special thanks to Fiona McEwen (Marketing Manager) who provided every assistance.
VOLUNTEERS
A number of people selflessly contributed their time to help out with the running of this years event and very special thanks must go to Ben Armitage for his venue co-ordination and cleaning, Jemima Waddell for her magnificent web and email posts. Also many thanks to Guy Waddell, Warwick Clout, Steve O’Neill, Rolly Flesch, Ken Gray, Carl Flouty, John Cotterill and James Rockwell for their very much appreciated assistance with supervision. Thanks must also go to the various artists themselves that sat on the Sales Desk. Special thanks go to our volunteer judges Graham Watson and Hannah Saunders for giving up their time to acknowledge the considerable effort of our artists. Finally… a huge thank you must go to Rosie Barbour who once again came to the fore in preparing a magnificent Morning Tea for our VIPS on Friday 4th December.
VIP MORNING TEA
This years event attracted a prestigious group to our Official Morning Tea, which was held on Friday 4th December. The celebration acknowledged the very generous assistance of BUILDCORP in sponsoring the event, and was attended by Paula Masselos (Mayor of Waverley), Dr. Marjorie O’Neill (MLA Member for Coogee), Ms. Josephine Sukkar AM (Buildcorp CEO) and the BUILDCORP team including… Bruce Jones, State Manager Interiors NSW (the team doing the Bondi Pavilion project) and Matthew Ball, General Manager, Asset Solutions (the team doing the Tamarama residential project). Representatives from the Surf Club included Tim & Pauline Murray (Club President) and Richard Hamilton (Club Captain) along with Associate Members Steve O’Neill, Rolly Flesch, Ken Gray. Artists in attendance were Holly Eva, Yuri Shimmyo, Melinda Hunter, Tricia Trinder, Jody Rosen and Abigail Lutzen… as well as myself as the Event Director. Mr. David Sharma (Federal Member for Wentworth) was held up by a prior engagement but also attended the Exhibition. Delicacies were prepared by Rosie Barbour and served by Carl Flouty. The highlight of the VIP Morning Tea was the announcement of the WONDERLAND ART FESTIVAL Artist Awards and Prizes.
Dr Marjorie O’Neill (MLA for Coogee) purchasing “Evening Sydney Harbour” by Wilma Sherman (SOLD for $1650)
ART PRIZES
The generous support provided by BUILDCORP this year enabled the addition of a number of ART AWARDS & PRIZES into the Event Program. Two experienced Art Enthusiasts were engaged as an ‘Independent’ Panel' to judge the various entries and award the prizes. Sincere thanks must go to Graham Watson (Director of the Waverley Woollahra Art School), and Hannah Saunders (UNSW Art & Design - COFA) who gave up their time to participate in the very difficult task of judging. The WONDERLAND ART FESTIVAL Awards and Prizes for the various categories went to:
- Tamarama Art Prize - for a work inspired by an 'Australian Seascape' [$500] - AWARDED TO... Tricia Trinder for “Last Wave” (SOLD - $995).
- Gold Prize - for 'Most Outstanding Work' [$300] - AWARDED TO... Frances Kevans for “Night Boast To Cairo” (SOLD - $1200).
- Silver Prize - for an 'Outstanding Work' [$200] - AWARDED TO... Yuri Shimmyo for “The Doughnut Shooter” (SOLD - $380)
- Bronze Prize - for an 'Outstanding Work' [$100] - AWARDED TO... Hans Madoery for “Sydney Harbour & Watsons Bay” (SOLD - $220).
- Highly Commended - for an 'Australian Seascape' [$100] - AWARDED TO... Jaqueline Burgess for “Blue Horizon” (FOR SALE - $1300).
- Highly Commended - for an 'Unrestricted Work' [$100] - AWARDED TO... Jane Eskin (PopAboutDesign) for “Tama Club House” (SOLD - $60).
- Highly Commended - for an 'Abstract' [$100] - AWARDED TO... Tanya Stubbles for “White Wash” (FOR SALE - $5200).
- Encouragement Award - for an 'Unrestricted Work’ - AWARDED TO... Jenna Caspary for “Marilyn in Vogue” (SOLD - $1500).
- Encouragement Award - for an 'Unrestricted Work’ - AWARDED TO... Oceanna Almog for “Bondi Beach Early Morning” (FOR SALE - $495).
- People's Choice - chosen by popular vote [$100] - received 17 of 47 total votes - AWARDED TO… Tula Mount for “Sami’s Beach” (FOR SALE - $1850).
Finally, a most sincere thank you to Tim Murray (Club President) for his vision, to Josephine Sukkar and BUILDCORP for their very generous support, and Paula Masselos (Mayor of Waverley) for their willingness to support our initiative, the event and the club.
The 'Silver Salties’ walking group dropped in to view the exhibits at WONDERLAND ART FESTIVAL - thank you!!
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