Three … Percival Photographic Portrait Prize

Really pleased to have three portraits selected, physically printed, framed and hung on the walls of the Perc Tucker Gallery in Townsville … finalists in the biennial ‘2020 Percival Photographic Portrait Prize’ … but … strangely no one is allowed to see them there !

Due to the Covid-19 virus the gallery is still firmly closed. The gallery is hoping that they will be able to open after Queensland’s Stage 2 round of restriction lifting on the 12th June, but that is far from certain. The exhibition runs until 19th July.

In the meantime will have to make do with a ‘virtual tour’ of the work as hung in the cavernous Perc Tucker Gallery. The photographic portraits are mixed on the walls with the generally larger works of the portrait painting prize … so finding specific works is ‘virtually’ problematic. Not a fan of the mixture of painting works and photographic images sharing the walls that’s for sure. Many … if not most … of the photographic works are dwarfed by massive (sometimes gaudy) paintings … but it is nice knowing they are ‘there’.

To save you searching ‘virtually’ … here are my three works that made the cut … ‘Generations – Aurukun’, (bottom) ‘Tomotaro on the Block’ (centre) … and great to see it getting it’s first recognition … ‘Kate … Waiting For Her New Breasts’ (top). (Massive Thanks again Kate !) Both ‘Generations … ‘ and ‘Tomotaro … ‘ have received a lot of recognition previously … just check back through my blog or go to my ‘Awards’ page here.

If you are up for the challenge and would like to attempt see the works that make up the combined Percival exhibitions try here … https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/facilities-and-recreation/theatres-and-galleries/perc-tucker-regional-gallery/percival-portrait-painting-prize#top … best of luck.

Images © Brian Cassey

'Kate - Waiting For Her New Breasts' - Finalist - Percival Photographic Portrait Prize 2020 - image by Brian Cassey'Tomotaro on the Block' - Finalist - Percival Photographic Portrait Prize 2020 - image by Brian Cassey'Generations - Aurukun' - Finalist - Percival Photographic Portrait Prize 2020 - image by Brian Cassey

PNG To Percival Prize …

Pleased that I made it back from an incredible Papua New Guinea gig on Friday morning … just in time to jump on a flight to Townsville for the opening eve ‘bash’ of the 2018 Percival Photographic Portrait Prize.

The ‘Percival’s’ are relatively new … a biennial prize now into it’s third edition. Despite it’s relative youth it has quickly grown into a worthwhile quality event attracting work from some of the best photographic portrait artists from around the country. A ten grand first prize has ensured that. It is run by the Townsville City Council and the exhibition of finalists work graces the clean crisp confines of the Pinnacles Gallery in Thuringowa.

Great to have two works on the walls of the finalist’s exhibition … as also did friends and photographer colleagues Jon Lewis, Peter Solness and Felicity Cole … whilst Rod McNicol and Glen O’Malley scored one apiece. Although there are one or two questionable works in the large expertly lit exhibition the overall standard of the majority is impressive, rivalling many other more notable prizes across the land. The City of Townsville Council also produces what has to be one of the best and most professional printed exhibition catalogues I have seen.

I havn’t previously mentioned my works that have been selected …  but can reveal that they are … “The Skin I’m In – II” of Carol Mayer (the same image that has graced the National Portrait Gallery and several other exhibition walls) … and “Mowisha from Jumbun” made in the indigenous township near Tully. Nothing new here I’m afraid …

The winner of the, not insubstantial, cash was Sydney’s Kellie Leczinska with her work “Mbathio, Marrickville”. The job of judging fell to Cherie McNair, Director and CEO, Australian Centre for Photography and Judy Annear, former Curator of Photography at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

Townsville Council should heartily and genuinely be congratulated for hosting this award and exhibition and for their support of the photographic arts. Would be wonderful to see Cairns do something similar …

The exhibition runs at the Pinnacles Gallery, 20 Village Boulevard, Thuringowa Central, Townsville, 10am to 5pm till the 15th July.

Below are images of my works on the gallery walls. (© Brian Cassey)

 

2018 Percival Photographic Portrait Prize - "Mowisha from Jumbun" - by Brian Cassey

2018 Percival Photographic Portrait Prize - "The Skin I'm In - II" - by Brian Cassey