One is a $100,000 recognition of top artists around Australia and Internationally highlighting the sporting moment/s in various mediums including video, and the other a recognition that small communities should not be neglected when it comes to the arts in which there are innumerable passionate artists.
Philanthropist Mr Basil Sellers AM has been a professional art collector since millennia with magnificent private collections in Sydney, London and the Rivera in France.
It was way back in 2003 that Basil Sellers sponsored a mission based art centre for the local community in Moruya on the NSW south coast where I had developed a local art ministry at the Australia's Bush Orchestra tourism site (Bell Minors under a canopy of Ironbarks),
At the official opening of the Basil Sellers Art Centre that year he announced a $10,000 Art Prize for Moruya for the following year (2004). Held in October bi-annually, over the years this has grown to $15,000 and broadened to nearby Shires.
Two years later Basil Sellers extended his support of Art Prizes to Melbourne for the $100,000 Sport-Art Prize again as a bi-annual and then in 2013 he again extended his community support with the $2000 Midge Point Art Prize as it is in this community where the Well-Being Australia 'Laguna Quays Respite' cottage is located.
Basil Sellers
Basil Sellers Sport-Art Prize
All will be revealed this evening at the Ian Potter Museum of Art as to which artist will take home the Basil Sellers $100,000 prize. Past winners have included traditional canvas art and video productions so the judges have certainly been 'out-there'.
The art will be on view for three months in Melbourne and then transhipped to the Gold Coast for an exhibition.
In 2012 Jon Cooper took home the big one with an artistic canvas expression of sporting personality nick-names, something of which we are all familiar. I wrote of this in 2012.
Another art work that drew much attention last time was the artistic expression of the three 200 Olympic sprint winners at Mexico City highlighting black power. Australian (late) Peter Norman the Silver Medallist wore a badge in support. I wrote of this in 2012.
In my view, not the judges, one of the previous year's artistic expressions was a glass enclosed display of colourful mediaeval artistic endeavours. Having earned 1st Class Hons in Church History majoring on the mediaeval church this was of particular interest to me.
Mexico City 1968 Olympics
Midge Point Art Prize
Initiated last year, now a local committee organises this art prize. In its inaugural year local artist Jill Leipster was awarded the $2000 prize with a painting highlighting a traditional country shed cladded with dilapidated weatherboards.
The 8 finalist art works were on display at The Point Tavern for three weeks and this year after the three week display they will in turn be transported to the local community hall where an exhibition of all art works in the competition will be shown.
In addition this year local developer John Lyons has come on board to assist in the sponsorship of this art prize acknowledging his Carlisle Waters new estate.
This is one of intriguing things about a rural coastal art prize is that it is community based with local people getting involved and with a Christian mission initiating it and handing it over to the community.
Old Pioneering
Exhibitions
Should you be a Melbourne resident or visiting that city be sure to make your way to the Ian Potter Museum of Art and view the 2014 Basil Sellers Sport-Art Prize or driving through the Whitsundays be sure to call in to The Point Tavern for the Midge Point art from a rural coastal community.
Being in Melbourne and Midge Point - two places at once - is a bit difficult – one art prize Friday night and the second art prize on the Whitsundays 11.00am Saturday morning. My delightfully pleasant role is representing Basil Sellers is in Midge Point.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html