Artistic talent on show at alumNOW exhibition

Tuesday 20 September, 2016

More than 200 guests attended the official opening of our ex-students’ alumNOW2016 Art Exhibition and Sale of Fine Arts on Friday 19 August. Dignitaries including Member for Ku-ring-gai Alister Henskens, Member for Hornsby Matt Kean, Federal MP for Bradfield Paul Fletcher, Principal Vicki Waters and Chair of College Council Braith Williams enjoyed mingling over champagne and canapes before hearing an opening address from ex-student, Jennifer Irwin (1976).

Ms Irwin spoke about her love of art, which was fostered at College, and her subsequent career in costume design. She also outlined the growing opportunities to explore different artistic mediums in Visual Arts at Pymble today.

The exhibition continued over the weekend and featured more than 100 items, including acrylic, oil and watercolour paintings, ceramics, sculpture and jewellery. It also featured a small retrospective of works by ex-student and renowned Mosman-based artist Kerrie Lester (1971), who passed away in April this year and whose work featured regularly in the Wynne and Sulman Prizes and the Mosman Art Prize, which she won in 2011. Best known for her unique hand-stitched canvasses, the charismatic artist also worked in the print, collage, ceramics and sculpture mediums and was a regular contender for the Archibald Prize, having entered 23 portraits over the years.

Sophie Pulvers (2004) and Clare Brodie (1984), who were both nominated for the 2016 Mosman Art Prize, also had works on display.

The exhibition was a wonderful showcase of the talent of Pymble ex-students. Proceeds from the event will go towards the ESU’s Centenary gift to the College, the Centenary Artwork in the new Centenary Sports Precinct.