Annual Art Awards make a welcome return

For the past two years, the Orange Blossom Festival Annual Art Awards have been cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions, however this year’s event was back with a bang, with around 180 works of art on show at the Castle Glen Community Centre in the Hills Shire.

The awards are presented each year by the Castle Hill Art Society and Living Choice was one of the proud sponsors of two art categories this year. Living Choice Regional Manager, Gail Eyres, attended the awards night and said the art on show was of a very high standard.

Congratulations to Lee Benton, who was the winner of the Living Choice Glenhaven art prize for Best Artist aged 60+, with her beautiful painting of Wangi Falls in the Northern Territory.  The winner of the Living Choice Galston Small Paintings was Madelaine Szymanski with her evocative painting "Reverie".

Jill Bluzmanis, President of the Castle Hill Art Society, thanked Living Choice for its continued support. “It is greatly appreciated,” she said.

Other prize-winners were:

Best in Show Award – David El-Melky – “Glow”. Oil Painting – Patrick Ao – “Portrait of a Woman”. Acrylic Painting – Colina Grant – “Jenny Dixon Beach”. Watercolour – Ellen MacMahon – “Averill”. Pastel & Works on Paper – Graham Gould – “Mrs Richmond”. Contemporary – Leah Ryan – “Illuminance”. Member’s Award – Ron Rosier – After the Rain”.

The Castle Hill Art Society was established in 1967, with the idea of promoting, encouraging and facilitating the practice of the visual arts in the Hills District of Sydney. Meetings are held at Castle Glen Community Centre on the first Wednesday evening of each month (except January).

Classes and workshops in all media are held for adults and after-school and Saturday morning classes are available for children. For more details, see CASTLE HILL ART SOCIETY Inc. - Home