In 2019, 84 artists from 20 countries were selected as finalists for the Kate Derum Award and the Irene Davies Emerging Artist Award for Small Tapestries. Entries must be a hand woven tapestry, defined as ‘a weft-faced fabric with discontinuous wefts’. Entry dimensions must not exceed 30cm(h) x 30cm(w) x 2cm(d).
KATE DERUM AWARD FOR SMALL TAPESTRIES
A non-acquisitive award of $5,000 AUD for established artists
The Kate Derum Award for Small Tapestries honours Kate Derum and her significant contribution to tapestry as a weaver, teacher, mentor and former Deputy Director/Studio Manager of the ATW. Generously supported by Susan Morgan, the award is open to all professional Australian and International tapestry artists.
Kate Derum Award for Small Tapestry 2019 WINNER: Annika Ekdahl 'Old Fringes'
Ekdahl employs the interlocking weaving technique with consummate skill to create her beguiling tapestry ‘Old Fringes’. ‘Old Fringes’ captivated the judges with its nuanced, ethereal and mysterious atmosphere inspired by the 16th–17th century symbolic painting genre ‘vanitas’. Ekdahl utilises the fiberous nature of the tapestry medium to blur definition and dreamily depict the transience of life and death through the central motifs of a doe and a skull.
Kate Derum Award for Small Tapestry 2019 HIGHLY COMMENDED: Britt Salt ‘Shadow’
Britt Salt’s ‘Shadow’ is dynamic in its structure and is a powerful use of the tapestry medium. Salt’s precise and clever use of irregularity and agitation of the tapestry’s grid (warp and weft) creates a perceptual disruption and hypnotic sense of movement. Salt’s choice of a minimal and restrictive colour palate in combination with silver flecks provides compelling contrast and sharpness.
Kate Derum Award for Small Tapestry 2019 HIGHLY COMMENDED: Sara Lindsay ‘Line Drawing (for Gosia)’
Sara Lindsay’s harmonic ‘Line Drawing (for Gosia)’ presents a minimalistic composition and concept that integrates completely with her craft process and practice. The nuanced rhythm of the tapestry is delicate in its beauty and draws the viewer to explore it’s subtle detail.
IRENE DAVIES EMERGING ARTIST AWARD FOR SMALL TAPESTRIES
A non-acquisitive award of $1,000 AUD
for artists in the first five years of their professional practice
The Irene Davies Emerging Artist Award for Small Tapestries was established to support early-career weavers in the first five years of their tapestry practice. Alayne and Alan Davies generously support the award, in memory of their mother Irene Davies, a tapestry enthusiast and avid supporter of the ATW.
Irene Davies Emerging Artist Award for Small Tapestry 2019 WINNER: Constanza Guerrero ‘Portrait of a Strange’
In her tapestry ‘Portrait of a Strange’ Constanza Guerrero skilfully weaves interlocking flat shapes, fragments of a memory, to depict a transient observation. The everyday ambiguity of sharing space with strangers has been thoughtfully interpreted in this graphic composition and refined tapestry-weaving technique.
Irene Davies Emerging Artist Award for Small Tapestry 2019 HIGHLY COMMENDED: Phillippa Edwards 'BITE'
Phillippa Edwards’ risk taking tapestry ‘BITE’ explores the darker side of the imagination through juicy and puzzling imagery. Using a range of yarns including cotton, linen, wool, bamboo and metallic threads to build her weft, Phillippa intrigued the judges with the uncomfortable nature of her tempestuous creature with a soon to be victim.
2019 finalists exhibition Tuesday 16 July – Friday 13 September 2019
2019 JUDGES
Emeritus Professor Kay Lawrence AM
School of Art, Architecture & Design, University of South Australia
Board of Directors, Australian Tapestry Workshop
Tapestry weaver
Dr David Sequeira
Director, Margaret Lawrence Gallery, Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne
Antonia Syme
Director, Australian Tapestry Workshop
