The exhibition tour will be approximately 5 months in duration, travelling from Sydney to Melbourne then residing in Bowral specifically:
Members Pavilion, Sydney Cricket Ground
Thursday 6th Oct – Sunday 31st Oct 2011
(3.5 weeks)
Media House Gallery, 655 Collins St., Docklands / Melbourne, VIC
Monday 28th Nov 2011 – Sunday 16th Jan 2011
(6 weeks)
International Cricket Hall of Fame (Bradman Museum) St. Jude St., Bowral, NSW
Thursday 27th Jan – Sunday 6th March 2011
(5 weeks)
The top 20 poems entered in the 2011 competition will be read live by actors:
· Max Philipson
· Mark Langham
· Justine Kacir
· Ali Aitken
Poets were encouraged to write a poem either metaphorically; using cricket as a figurative ‘vehicle’; as an analogy or an ironic simile.
Judges: Dr. Louise Wakeling and Amanda Shalala
Date: Thursday 15th Sept
Time: from 6pm
At: Australian Youth Hotel à
63 Bay St
Glebe 2037
Come one, come all
Cricket makes for good poetry because, of course, cricket is poetry. This is a sport measured out in metre and stanzas, in line and length. Every over is a verse. Every innings is a poem: sometimes an epic, sometimes merely a phrase. God, must have been a cricketer, as he clearly intended the sport to be poetic, which is why he rhymed “cricket” with “wicket” (and, for that matter, “snick it”). – Ben Macintyre – The Times 2005
Matt Young’s “Gentleman Jim” wins the 2010 Cricket Poetry Award.
Over one hundred entries were received from the UK, South Africa, New Zealand, Bahrain and Australia for the Cricket Poetry Award competition in 2010.
The last four poems were selected and publicly read at the Cricket Art Prize opening – Members Pavilion, Sydney Cricket Ground on October 7th.
The judges, Peter Fenton and Sally Loane agonised over which poem should win. “In the end, we had to make some tough decisions and it wasn’t an easy process.” said Peter Fenton
Sally Loane added “As judges we were drawn to poems that were more of a personal nature. Rather than depicting characters and actions, we were lured to the poet’s own state of mind, emotions and views.”
“Gentleman Jim” by Matt Young pays homage to the many time-honoured and experienced umpires that diligently adjudicate the weekend games in social, grade and competition cricket over the summer.
“Gentleman Jim”
He brings a certain dignity
Exudes a certain charm
He works with an integrity
No fuss and no alarm
A vestige of the golden age
He has those austere looks
Like timeless art and Shakespeare’s plays
Or well thumbed fav’rite books
His essence is humanity
He’s gen’rous to the core
As all he does, he does for free
His loyalty is folklore
I don’t know ’bout his playing days
And what his stats all told
But bet he played the noble way
Within traditions fold
But now he wears the black and white
Immaculately pressed
He’s always groomed with class and pride
And always looks his best
And though time’s slightly stooped his spine
He cuts a dashing frame
And just like France’s finest wine
Age bolsters his acclaim
And every summer Sat’day sees
Old Jim out at the ground
Impartial as the summer breeze
And judgment always sound
And every player loves old Jim
Respecting his good name
And for his passion they thank him
This doyen of the game
© Matt Young 2010
Press Release Friday, 8 October 2010
Michael Bell’s “Last Ball” wins the Cricket Art Prize 2010
Just under 200 artists submitted a painting for the 2010 Cricket Art Prize competition, in which 40 finalists were selected.
Artists were asked to depict life in and around the game and sport of cricket, in settings of beach, backyard, street and local club cricket.
Winning artist Michael Bell said “The inspiration for the painting came to me when I imagined the frustration of a bowler that has toiled all afternoon in desperation and as the game draws to an end, there’s a flicker of hope ‘I’m gonna this guy out and change the result of the match with the ‘Last Ball’. I applied the paint quite quickly to render the frantic energy of the setting” he added.
His work “Last Ball” oil on canvas portrays a huge towering head and long arm of a desperate bowler lurching a delivery towards a stoic batsman in the distance looking to receive.
The Highly Commended award was split between 2 works; “Aussie Cricket in the Beginning…” by Candice Reid-Latimer and “Perfect Pitch” by Anne Starling.
Surrey painter Christina Pierce and Newcastle artist Alan Harris have had their paintings accepted for exhibition at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Australia.
The UK artists are two of forty painters from around the world whose work will make up a cricket themed art exhibition, the Cricket Art Prize, during the Ashes summer down under.
Christina Pierce’s oil painting “Wide Ball” is an impressive semi-abstract piece which powers its way straight towards you, symbolising a very bold and brazen cricket ball with a cryptic scoreboard of sorts in the background, as a distant horizon sizzles.
“Catch That One Dad” by Alan Harris depicts a street cricket scene in a familiar setting of a neighbourhood game played amongst children and parents, as northern English life continues around them, complete with street sweepers, washing lines and old men walking their dogs.
With all forty paintings to consider, the Winner and Highly Commended will be announced at the opening on the evening of Thursday 7th Oct 2010 at the Members Pavilion of the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The exhibition tour is approximately 5 months in duration, travelling all around Australia taking in four art-space venues concluding at the Bradman Museum.
Anneke van der Pal, a member of the Organising Committee said “The exhibition is wide open for works that display a little imagination and daring. It’s an exceptional challenge for artists and a chance for them to show their true sporting colours”.
Cricket Art Prize 2010 – Top 40 selected for exhibition.
The judges Jane Kellahan, Steve Abbott, Dr. Dick Quan and John McDonald have made their selections for the 40-strong Cricket Art Prize exhibition, spending close to 3 days reviewing each entry and another full day debating the pros and cons of the finalists.
Artistic works from England, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand will comprise a cricket themed art exhibition, the Cricket Art Prize, during the ‘Ashes’ summer.
Examples of the varied work are “A Little Bit of Spin Goes a Long Way” by Tarli Glover which portrays a speculating batsman negotiating a variety of deliveries that could that turn either way; an obvious play on the paintings title.
Benjamin Toupein’s very emotive “Saturday in the Slips – Dropped Catch” depicts the angst and passion that a slips-cordon goes through when a precious ball is dropped in a crucial part of the game; a feeling understood by all and sundry.
With all forty paintings to consider, the Winner and Highly Commended will be announced on the evening of Thursday 7th Oct 2010 at the Members Pavilion of the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Organising Committee member Anneke van der Pal said “The Cricket Art Prize exhibition showcases paintings with great imagination and courage. It’s a rare experience for anyone to see a national pastime celebrated through art, at the hallowed grounds of the SCG”.
The organisers have the pleasure of announcing that the Cricket Art Prize will be exhibiting in Melbourne in the lead up to, and during the Boxing Day Test period.
Media House Gallery – the home of Fairfax Media’s Melbourne operations including The Age newspaper – will be the official art-space and venue for the Cricket Art Prize exhibition – located on the corner of Collins and Spencer streets in the heart of Melbourne at 655 Collins Street.
Painters and Poets will use a national pastime – cricket, as the vehicle to unsettle preconceptions, generate new ideas and challenge our contemporary culture, but more importantly, cricket and the arts bring people of all backgrounds, socio-economic levels and nationalities together.
The arts reflect the emotions, beliefs and prejudices that influence the way we think, behave and feel and cricket in all its forms, has inspired artists and writers – past and present, most of which romanticise, celebrate and pay tribute to the game.
Derek Zilich, Key Organiser, said: “We had been looking to secure a conducive venue for Melbourne for some time, so we are very pleased that the artistic community and the cricketing fraternity of Victoria will have the opportunity to enjoy and celebrate cricket through art with this exhibition.”
Miranda Ramsay, Communications Manager for The Age said: “The passion of cricket enthusiasts and creativity of artists will result in a wonderful exhibition at the Media House Gallery and we are all looking forward to seeing some impressive works of art from local and international artists.
“Every year, The Age supports a variety of arts, culture, educational, business, sport and community organisations and events. Our support of the Cricket Art Prize exhibition strengthens our part in celebrating all the things that we love about Australia, and cements our connection with the community spirit we enjoy being part of.”
WHERE
Media House Gallery
Media House, 655 Collins St
Docklands, VIC 3008
WHEN
Thursday 16th Dec 2010 – Opening event.
Then exhibiting through to January 16th 2011.
Inside Cricket Magazine is encouraging their readers to get in touch with their creative side by announcing its sponsorship of the Cricket Art Prize competition and the Cricket Poetry Award.
Editor in Chief – ACP Sporting Titles, Martin Lenehan, said: “Inside Cricket magazine is written by cricket tragics, for cricket tragics, with interviews, features, humour and in-depth analysis of our great game. Our support and sponsorship of the Cricket Art Prize and Cricket Poetry Award is a natural fit”.
“By bringing together the passion of cricket enthusiasts and the skills of talented painters and poets around the world, we look forward to seeing some impressive works of art and poetry that will celebrate and pay tribute to a global sport and national pastime.”
For further information on Inside Cricket Magazine and its sponsorship of the Cricket Art Prize and Cricket Poetry Award please contact Derek Zilich on 0411 572 100 or Cameron Jones on 02 9288 9123.
Inside Cricket Magazine delivers expert views, news, reviews and, most importantly, unparalleled insight about the stars of the sport. Forging a closer link between the players and the fans is Inside Cricket’s main priority, with meaty features on the national and international team heroes that probe behind the headlines. Inside Cricket is written by the foremost experts in the game; Ian Chappell, Richie Benaud, Michael Hussey, Mark Taylor, Damien Fleming and Justin Langer amongst many others, providing peerless coverage and analysis.
In 2010, entries will be accepted from any citizen residing in an ICC country i.e. – Australia, England & Wales, New Zealand, South Africa, West Indies, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe who write their poem in the 12 months leading up to the closing date – 1st September 2010.
This annual poetry competition offers AU$2000 to the winning poet with international exposure for the top twenty poems.
The organisers invite poets from test playing nations to submit a poem celebrating aspects of life in and around the game and sport of cricket, in settings of park cricket, backyard cricket, street cricket, beach cricket, social-cricket or local club cricket.
The genre may be narrative, dramatic, satirical, lyrical, elegy or verse fable.
The written & spoken word reflects the emotions, beliefs and prejudices that influence our thoughts, behaviour and personality. Poets will be asked to use a national pastime and global sport – cricket, as the vehicle to unsettle preconceptions, generate new ideas and consider our contemporary culture.
The Cricket Poetry Award will be run in conjunction with the Cricket Art Prize, and the winner will be announced at the Cricket Art Prize opening at the Members Pavilion of the SCG – 7th Oct 2010.
The judges encourage poets to write a poem commenting on life in and around the game and sport of cricket either metaphorically; using cricket as a figurative ‘vehicle’; as an analogy or an ironic simile.
The judges in 2010 are published poet Adam Gibson, Walkley Award nominee, sports & feature writer Jessica Halloran and Peter Fenton – published poet, writer and film maker.
Key Organiser, Derek Zilich said “Poetry is a carefully sculptured canvas, with the poet using words instead of paint, and the canvas is you and me. This annual poetry competition serves the interests of all test playing nations involved in art, poetry and cricket, so pick up an entry form and wax lyrical.”
Entries will now be accepted from any citizen of a full member, registered, ICC country i.e. – Australia, England & Wales, New Zealand, South Africa, the West Indies, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe who have completed their work in the last 12 months.
This annual art prize competition offers AU$20,000 to the winning artist, AU$2000 for the Highly Commended and AU$1000 to the Peoples’ Choice with international exposure for the finalists in the travelling exhibition.
The organisers invite artists from test playing nations to submit a painting or composition that depicts life in and around the game and sport of cricket, in settings of backyard, park, beach, street, local club or social-cricket.
The work may be figurative, semi-abstract, still-life or figure-in-landscape.
Acceptable media are: oil painting, acrylic painting, water-colour, pastels or mixed media on canvas, board or artists paper with a cubist, impressionist, tonalist, fauvist, surrealist, pop art, futurist, hard-edge, modern, naïve, orientalist, pointillist, precisionist, regionalist or romanticist style.
Paintings of famous people, cricketers or the artist (past or present) WILL NOT be accepted as they are not, by the organisers’ definition a cricket painting but a portrait, and the Cricket Art Prize is not a portrait art prize.
The judges for 2010 are comedian and author Steve Abbott; art collector Dr. Dick Quan; art-critic John McDonald and last years winning artist – Jane Kellahan.
Derek Zilich, the key organiser commented “We expect a wider variety of entries this year due to the fact that the Cricket Art Prize has been thrown open to all test-cricket playing nations… the closing date is the 1st of September and all artists are encouraged to get hold of an entry form and start putting some runs on the board”.
