The Whitsunday Marine Art Show

by Dalwyn McErlane on 27 Feb 2008 The Oceanic Whitsunday Boat and Leisure Show might be three months away but the show’s fifth annual Marine Art Exhibition is already picking up the huge momentum from last year’s gala event.

With eight categories within the marine art theme, the show offers entrants $12,000 in prize money from sponsors the Sudholz Group and the Rotary Club of Airlie Beach Inc.

The show, on the 7th and 8th June, will be in a large marquee instead of the Meridian Marina offices, which will give entrants and viewers a much more spacious environment to enjoy the art.

The event’s judge will be renowned marine artist John N. Pearson, a member of the International Society of Marine Painters and the Australian Society of Marine Artists. His work, described as ‘feeling’, or ‘mood’ art, has a way of touching people’s emotions and is admired at several national galleries as well as galleries across Australia and overseas.

Judging the photography section of the art show will be top local photographer Ziggy Zeigler, whose photos hang in all corners of the world, including the Ship Owners Club of London.

Chief Steward Tony Fossey said this year’s art show was already attracting the cream of Queensland’s artists and would lift the bar on the show’s successful history. “There are eight categories this year, including miniatures, small paintings, two photography categories and a youth category, to encourage young artists,” he said. “Every year I am further astonished at the artistic talent in the region and from the early entries this year, I think the standard of work will be breathtaking.”

For more information on the show, or to enter, visit the web site http://www.whitsundayboatshow.com and follow the links to the art show