Percival Photographic Portrait Prize

“Mother Africa” in International Photography Awards (IPA) …

Must admit … there was a lot of emotion entailed in making this image “Mother Africa”. Without getting too personal my captivating subject Aurora Coulter was heavily invested in the subject, history and experience of making this work. Aurora … normally vibrant and ebullient … dug deep into past personal experiences to channel the emotional plight of her African American forebears over the centuries. There were tears …

So … I’m delighted as much for Aurora as for myself that this work has been recognised several times around the planet … the latest being last weeks notification of an “Honourable Mention” in the ‘Portrait’ section of the 2022 International Photography Awards (IPA).

Over the last few months “Mother Africa” … made in January this year in a friends shed studio (Thanks Marc) … has also catalogued other mentions in … the 2022 Pollux Awards (Portrait – Honourable Mention), the Moscow International Foto Awards (People Culture – Bronze Award), the 2022 International Portrait Photographer of the Year (Published in IPPOTY Top 101 Portraits selection and book), the 2022 Percival Photographic Prize (Townsville – Finalist) and the 15th International Colour Awards (Portrait – Finalist).

Even later news (from just last eve) … “Mother Africa” will be one of the thirty works exhibited in an inaugural portraiture exhibition at the Crate 59 Gallery in Cairns.

“The Burning Cane Portrait Exhibition” (for portraiture in any medium made this year by Queensland artists) will open on the 4th of November and run for three weeks. “Mother Africa” will be there (very) large on the walls from the celebratory opening event … which, sadly, I will miss as I’ll be at the launch of the 2022 Head On Photo Festival in Sydney. More on both of these events at a later date.

Image © Brian Cassey (and massive Thanks again Aurora !)

Three (New) Images Selected in Percival Portrait Prize …

Chuffed that three of my portraits are getting their FIRST award recognition after being selected yesterday (Friday) as Finalists in the bi-annual Percival Portrait Prize. They will be exhibited on the gracious walls of the historic Perc Tucker Gallery in Townsville.

The award runs in conjunction with the Percival Painting Portrait Prize and attracts entries from around Australia and Internationally.

Nice to see these three more recent images selected … ‘Covid Vax & Ice Cream’ (top – Leanne at Yarrabah after her Covid vaccination),  ‘Mother Africa’ (centre – African American Aurora Coulter) and ‘Graham Elms – Legendary Larrikin’ (bottom) … all made in far north Queensland in the last few months.

‘Covid Vax & Ice Cream’ was made for a The Australian story on the door to door vaccination program in the indigenous community of Yarrabah. ‘Mother Africa’ … of Colorado USA raised African American Aurora Coulter …  was made to depict the historic plight of black Americans, an issue very close to Aurora’s heart. ‘Graham Elms – Legendary Larrikin’ was made for a Sunday Mail series on … well … ‘Larrikins’. Graham is your archetypal far north Queensland bad boy of old.

It’s now three ‘Percival’s’ in a row that I have had work selected to be exhibited … three works in 2018 here … and two in 2016 here. 

The winners of this years Percival Photographic Portrait Prize will be selected and announced at the exhibition opening at Perc Tucker Gallery in Townsville on the 23rd April and will show till July 3rd.

Images © 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