SARAH GOFFMAN
Blue willow
plastic, permanent marker, clay
I imagine the ubiquitous blue willow–patterned plates or cups being used in Meroogal’s past. By simulating the pattern on contemporary plastics designated for waste, I imbue them with a new life. Photo © Joshua Morris for Sydney Living Museums
Meroogal Women’s Art Prize 2020 Winners’ Announcement
From paintings, textiles, audio, ceramics and mixed media, the Meroogal Women’s Art Prize celebrates the creativity of female artists in NSW and today, the 2020 Winners were announced at a modest event at the Meroogal house museum.
Presented by Sydney Living Museums and now in its 18th year, the Meroogal Women’s Art Prize has become a key event in the artistic calendar of the Shoalhaven and NSW more broadly. The prize invites NSW female artists to create works in any medium that respond to Meroogal house; its fascinating history and collection of treasures.
From an unprecedented number of 300 entries this year, 40 finalist artworks have been selected by a distinguished panel of judges for display at Meroogal House Museum. The total prize pool for the 2020 Prize is over $10,000 with the first prize winner receiving $7000, a SLM Membership and a prestigious Bundanon Trust artist-in-residence scholarship. The Highly Commended Award winner will receive a solo exhibition opportunity at Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, Nowra along with a SLM Membership.
The 2020 Meroogal Women’s Art Prize winners are:
- 1st prize - SARAH GOFFMAN Blue willow (plastic, permanent marker, clay)
- 2nd prize - SASSY PARK Garden play set (ceramic, wood, found object)
- Highly Commended - JULIE PATERSON A dozen modest fancies (printed linen, vintage chair)
Through these challenging times, this art prize has encouraged stunning works made even more special in being exhibited within the property that gave inspiration to the artists... Every year we are knocked out by the high standard of the works submitted and this year has surpassed all before.
Adam Lindsay, Executive Director, Sydney Living Museums & NSW State Archives
2020 Meroogal Women’s Art Prize judges are: Bronwyn Coulston, Arts & Culture, Shoalhaven City Council; Deborah Ely AM, CEO, Bundanon Trust; Anne Ferran, Visual Artist and Sharon Veale, Partner and Chief Executive of GML Heritage and SLM Trustees.
This prize has for decades championed the work of women artists and foregrounded the importance of womens’ stories. Meroogal itself is at the heart of this prize, and its rich inheritance continues to provide an inextinguishable source of inspiration to participating artists.
Deborah Ely AM
Located in Nowra on the NSW south coast, Meroogal is one of Sydney Living Museums’ 12 historic houses and museums. Once home to the Thorburn and MacGregor families, the charming property still overflows with their belongings, from favourite books and ornaments to furniture, photographs, diaries and journals. The Meroogal Women’s Art Prize pays tribute to the lives of four generations of women who made Meroogal their home for a hundred years.
The 2020 Meroogal Women’s Art Prize is presented by Sydney Living Museums with support from Sydney Living Museums Foundation, Bundanon Trust and Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, Nowra.
Sarah Goffman, Winner
Sarah Goffman
Blue willow
plastic, permanent marker, clay
I imagine the ubiquitous blue willow–patterned plates or cups being used in Meroogal’s past. By simulating the pattern on contemporary plastics designated for waste, I imbue them with a new life.
Sarah Goffman
Blue willow
plastic, permanent marker, clay
I imagine the ubiquitous blue willow–patterned plates or cups being used in Meroogal’s past. By simulating the pattern on contemporary plastics designated for waste, I imbue them with a new life.
Sassy Park, Runner-up
Sassy Park
Garden play set
ceramic, wood (found object)
Kate cuts flowers. George feeds the chickens. Belle spies a rabbit and listens to the little bird sing. The residents and animals of Meroogal have become miniaturised in Garden play set. Freely modelled and painted in various clays and finishes, these ceramic figures conjure the nostalgia of wooden Erzgebirge toys and Staffordshire figurines. Inspired by the transformation of objects played with from my grandparents’ china cabinet, these treasures play out their narrative on the space of a red lacquered tray.
Sassy Park
Garden play set
ceramic, wood (found object)
Kate cuts flowers. George feeds the chickens. Belle spies a rabbit and listens to the little bird sing. The residents and animals of Meroogal have become miniaturised in Garden play set. Freely modelled and painted in various clays and finishes, these ceramic figures conjure the nostalgia of wooden Erzgebirge toys and Staffordshire figurines. Inspired by the transformation of objects played with from my grandparents’ china cabinet, these treasures play out their narrative on the space of a red lacquered tray.
Julie Patterson, Highly Commended
Julie Patterson
A dozen modest fancies
printed linen, vintage chair
Over four generations, the Meroogal women created a genteel and modest space that hums with comfort, colour and connectedness. Capable and thrifty, the Thorburn and Macgregor women made things, made do, and made good choices. Standing in the parlour, I imagined Tot’s nieces Margaret, Helen and Elgin wanting to re-cover a generous armchair they’ve stripped to the ticking. Over a pot of strong tea, they flip through a well-loved sample book, considering which of these fabrics they most fancy.
Julie Patterson
A dozen modest fancies
printed linen, vintage chair
Over four generations, the Meroogal women created a genteel and modest space that hums with comfort, colour and connectedness. Capable and thrifty, the Thorburn and Macgregor women made things, made do, and made good choices. Standing in the parlour, I imagined Tot’s nieces Margaret, Helen and Elgin wanting to re-cover a generous armchair they’ve stripped to the ticking. Over a pot of strong tea, they flip through a well-loved sample book, considering which of these fabrics they most fancy.
