41st YSA Competitive Art Exhibition Draws Crowds

There was no dampening the excitement of the Young Society of Artists’ (YSA) 41st annual Competitive Art Exhibition held over the Cherry Festival weekend, despite the wet weather.

Over 200 artworks attracted over 1000 visitors from opening night through the weekend, higher than previous years. The indoor venue was definitely a plus this year, particularly with the persistent rain.

People’s Choice awards went to:

• Adult section - Cootamundra’s Anne Hand with her painting The Blue Halter; and
• Youth section - Young’s Suzie Tuckfield with her painting Environmental Injustice.

Winners included:

• Acquisitive Bernie Mullany Award - Anneluise “Sugar” Friedel-Klarenberg from Young.
• YLAD Living Soils Acquisitive Award - Ann Hand from Cootamundra.
• Any Other Medium - Denise Scholz-Wulfing, 1st place and Jeffy Peady, 2nd place.
• Pastels - Ann Hand from Cootamundra, 1st place.
• Miniature - Judy Barker, 1st place and Carmel Webb, 2nd place.
• Drawing - Louise Adams, 1st place and Kirsten Griffiths from Young, 2nd place.
• Porcelain Painters - Robyn Moore, 1st place.
• Photography - Maree Myhill, 1st place and Sarah Lewy, 2nd place.
• Digital Art - Megan Holt, 1st place and Jamie-Lee Gallop, 2nd place.
• Water Colour - Michelle Keayes from Cowra, 1st place and Lyn Angus from Cootamundra, 2nd place.
• Oil and Acrylic - Louise Dabin from Cootamundra, 1st place and Anne Hand from Cootamundra, 2nd place.
• Youth Primary - Belle Morris, 1st place and Austin Hart, 2nd place.
• Youth Secondary - Suzie Tuckfield, 1st place and Miranda Howard, 2nd place.

The raffle winners walked off with some very attractive prizes, including:

• A painting by local artist Megan Holt went home with first-prize winner Robyn Sykes from Binalong;
• Young’s John Dunk left with a handpainted porcelain bowl donated by Robyn Moore as his second place prize; and
• A hamper donated by Hilltops Honey went to third-place winner Graeme Schneider from Young.

YSA members thanked everyone who took part in their 41st Annual Competitive Art Exhibition and supported local artists by acquiring some original art pieces.

The year isn’t quite over for YSA yet - a new Members Only exhibition will open in Burrangong Gallery on December 14, with a morning tea. Everyone is welcome to join the YSA members and help them celebrate the end of a very busy and successful year. The exhibition of members’ works will remain on display until the end of February 2025. This exhibition by members will include a very diverse collection of works in all mediums.

Artists are urged to submit their works in the 2025 Annual Lambing Flat Sculpture, Wood and Big Art Exhibition. Entry forms can be found at the Young Visitors Centre, Young Town Hall and Southern Cross Cinema. This is an open exhibition for regional NSW and beyond, with no limit on size. Entries are due by February 28, 2025.

The YSA expressed thanks to those who have supported their activities throughout 2024 and advised artists that the art room would be closed for the school holidays.

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• Arts & Media
• Community Groups