Cutting Edge Work at the ‘Blunts’ …


A truly memorable evening last Friday when twenty four ‘Blunt Virgins’ displayed their various and varied works at ‘crate59 Gallery’ Cairns, vying for places in Cairns answer to the Archibald’s – the ‘Blunt Edge of Portraiture Awards’.

The gallery was packed with guests – the pavement outside was packed with guests (totalling an astonishing 450 odd) – as six artists portraiture works were selected from the sculpture, drawing, painting, craftwork, performance art and photography on display.

It’s a little while since I have been described as a ‘virgin’ … but was more than happy to be invited to take part and produce a photographic portrait of fellow artist and performer Kloe Gee for the show. On the eve Kloe – unlike my rather ‘raw’ image of her on the wall – was beautifully body painted as a bower bird – and performed her ‘portrait’ of fellow artist Maree Nicholson by gracefully moving amongst the gallery audience and ‘collecting’ items to add to her ‘nest’.

The winning half dozen or so artists were announced (or informed personally such was the racket from the enthusiastic and boisterous crowd) and both Kloe and I got a welcome ‘winner’ tap on the shoulder from Blunt organiser Dominic Johns.

For all the noise, excitement, ‘refreshment’ and other carrying on I can’t remember the complete list of winners (and the Blunt web site has yet to be updated with results) … but do remember that the evenings overall winner was a compelling portrait of Darren Blackman by fellow artist India Collins.

A really great evening … and an annual art event that Blunt organisers Dominic Johns and Roland Nancarrow … and the City of Cairns … can be proud of.

Below Is my winning portrait entry of Kloe (top and middle) and the overall winning portrait of Darren Blackman by India Collins (bottom). Works © Brian Cassey and © India Collins.

 

Blunt Edge of Portraiture Kloe Gee

Blunt Edge of Portraiture Kloe Gee
BluntIndiaCollinsDarrenBlackman