Young Eurobodalla artist Millie Jones has won the overall Little Sellers Art Prize 2017 with her abstract artwork “The Pieces of Me”.
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Millie’s work was one of 200 submitted by Eurobodalla students for the prize, which is a companion event to the prestigious biennial Basil Sellers Art Prize.
Now in its second year, Little Sellers aims to inspire Eurobodalla’s young people to pursue creative arts.
Finalists in each of the four age categories were recognised for their efforts in a special exhibition opening held at the council chambers on Monday.
Their works will now be exhibited in Eurobodalla’s three libraries during the school holidays until Friday, October 6.
This year’s Little Sellers was judged by prolific local artist Julie Holmes, who said she narrowed down the finalists by considering whether the works reflected this year’s theme, ‘I am’.
“It was terribly hard - they’re all winners,” she said.
“It came down to the person that got across who they were, and that’s a very important thing as an artist.”
In announcing the winners, the council’s director of Community, Arts and Recreation Kathy Arthur praised the quality of the entries, which demonstrate the creative spirit of Eurobodalla’s young artists.
“A creative life is really important to nurture. It makes you think, to ask questions and be inventive,” she said.
“Everyone’s a winner just to be in the exhibition.”
Millie’s artwork won her $200 cash, donated by philanthropist and arts patron Basil Sellers. She also won the nine-12 age group. Winners in each category received a $50 Amanda’s of Mogo art supply voucher and runners-up a $30 voucher.
A special Children’s Award, Youth Award and Environment Award, each attracted $75 prizes. These works will be acquired for the council’s permanent collection.
Little Sellers Art Prize 2017 finalists
Overall winner: Emily (Millie) Jones – The Pieces of Me
Environment Award: Adam Strahlendorf – I Am in Moruya
Children’s Services Award: Tarlay Nye
Youth Award: Ella Burke
Five–eight age group
Winner: Madeleine Mae Powis - I Am Shocked
Runner-up: Jeremy Scully – I Am Painting
Finalists: Sahara Brown – I Am, Te Hira Hawke – Fruit Man, Lincoln Horwood – I Am Playing NRL, Selby Johnston – I Am, Maddison Maguire – I Am, Adam Strahlendorf – I Am in Moruya and Logan Wood – I Am.
Nine-12 age group
Winner: Emily (Millie) Jones – The Pieces of Me
Runner-up: Nina Thorne – I Am Wondering
Finalists: Callan Buck – I Am a Timmy, Amy Crick – I Am… Always Thinking of the Sea, Xian Fernandez – I Am Me!, Lexy Hunter – With Flowers in her Hair, Tarlay Nye – Aboriginal Artist, Oscar Sharman – I Am So Lucky to Live Here, Anton Thorne – The Sea makes Me Feel Free, Jasper Ziino – I Am Soaring High and Milly Shanahan – The Pieces of Me.
13-15 age group
Winner: Leah Sethi – Jelly Fish
Runner-up: Ava Weymans – The Bare Necessities
16-18 age group
Winner: Chelsi-Lee Dorn – I Am a Proud Aboriginal
Runner-up: Sarah Giddy – I Am a Child of Light
Finalists: Ella Burke – Life in Water and Peta Morris – Anything I Want to Be.
