Exhibition In Focus The Percivals

Glencore Percival Portrait Painting Prize

Perc Tucker Regional Gallery

9 May – 13 July 2014

DUO Magazine

Percival Photographic Portrait Prize

Pinnacles Gallery

10 May – 13 July 2014

2014 saw a dramatic evolution for the exhibition affectionately referred to as The Percivals, shifting from a stand-alone biennial exhibition, to a citywide celebration of the genre of portraiture. Since its inception in 2007 the award has been an open competition for artists, showcasing the outstanding and innovative work currently being produced by Australian artists, and providing emerging artists and residents from Townsville and further afield an opportunity to engage with portraiture and share their expressions of themselves and those close to them.

Thanks to the generosity of Xstrata/Glencore and other sponsors, the Award has steadily grown in stature and prize monies over the years, from $3,000 in 2007 to the significant acquisitive prize of $40,000 that is now awarded to the winner of the Glencore Percival Portrait Painting Prize

New sponsor DUO Magazine have in 2014 allowed for the introduction of a sister exhibition to the painting prize presented at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, expanding the city’s celebration of portraiture to now include a $10,000 DUO Magazine Percival Photographic Portrait Prize at Pinnacles Gallery.

Also a first in 2013/2014, the financial contribution of Cox Rayner Architects has enabled the production of a publication of all finalists’ works from both the Glencore Percival Portrait Painting Prize and the DUO Magazine Percival Photographic Portrait Prize, much to the delight of visitors and participating artists alike.

Combined, The Percivals have attracted considerable coverage locally and nationally, further pressing Townsville’s claims as an arts and cultural leader in the context of regional Australian centres.

This ample coverage has resulted in the submission of fine works from all corners of the country in both competitions; 147 artists entered a total of 176 works for consideration into the Glencore Percival Portrait Painting Prize, of which 87 works by 82 artists were pre-selected as finalists. Similarly, 105 artists entered a total of 167 works for consideration into the DUO Magazine Percival Photographic Portrait Prize, with 75 works by 61 artists selected and displayed as finalists.

Of course, each major prize could only attract one winner. On Friday 9 May, at a gala event that attracted in excess of 800 guests, Port Operations Manager for major sponsor Glencore Daniel Christie announced Archibald winning artist Frank Giacco as the winner of the $40,000 Glencore Percival Portrait Painting Prize.

The winning work, entitled Charles Blackman, is a 198 x 200 cm oil painting of the famed artist, who was a pivotal member of the Antipodeans, a group of Melbourne painters which also included Arthur Boyd, John Brack, and John Perceval, amongst others. The work now enters the City of Townsville Art Collection for the enjoyment of future generations of Townsville residents.

The exhibition’s judge, Angus Trumble, Director of the National Portrait Gallery, said of his selection of Giacco’s painting as the $40,000 acquisitive prize winner, “Complexity is not always a virtue in portraiture, but this large square painting inserts between the viewers and the subject a superimposed series of lattices, notional screens of pattern and colour and tone, as well as real screens, with which to play and beguile. It is a technical tour de force, and an eloquent tribute to one fine artist and his work by another.”

Francis GIACCO

Charles Blackman [detail] 2010

Oil on canvas

198 x 200 cm

2014.0075

Acquisitive Prize Winner Glencore Percival Portrait Painting Prize, 2014. City of Townsville Art Collection

Photograph: Holly Grech-Fitzgerald

Another popular launch event held the following Friday evening, this time at Pinnacles Gallery, saw Scott Morrison of major sponsor DUO Magazine announce acclaimed Australian photographer Roderick McNicol as the recipient of the inaugural $10,000 DUO Magazine Percival Photographic Portrait Prize for his stunning shot of actor Jack Charles.

The winning work, entitled The Late Blossoming of Jack Charles, is a traditional portrait of the highly regarded actor. The sitter’s direct gaze is extremely compelling, and the photographer has cleverly balanced a number of rich textures.

The exhibition’s judge Suzanne Buljan, Director of the Australian Centre for Photography, said of her selection of Roderick McNicol’s work as the $10,000 prize winner, “In an era of the rapid fire digestion of imagery via the 24 hour news cycle and social media, it was a pleasure to take a moment and stop. To take a moment to contemplate and appreciate the art of photographic portraiture. Roderick McNicol’s winning photograph… is a stunning portrayal of a life story captured in a moment. With a sensibility reminiscent of the portraits of German born photographers Thomas Ruff and Thomas Struth (both out of the Dusseldorf Academy), this image generously allows the subject to speak with honesty and grace; for Jack and his story to come a little closer to his audience.”

While the prize announcements set tongues wagging, the enduring popularity of the exhibitions is evidenced by combined exhibition visitation of 21 325 at the closure of The Percivals

The community’s fascination with portraiture has certainly aided these strong figures, however it is undoubtedly the fine quality of the works selected, and the raft of fringe events, educational resources and public programming that has ensured The Percivals is an enjoyable and sustainable city-wide event.

Examples of additional programs under the umbrella of The Percivals included the display of Animal Portraits, an exhibition of works by local artists competing for a $1,000 prize, the distribution of a developed education kit and a free children’s activity book, the organisation and hosting of weekly portrait workshops, a series of photographic portrait master classes, tours, lectures and floortalks, and the engagement of the broader community in the Flinders Street banner exhibition of photographs, entitled The PEOPLE’S Percival

A unique partnership with ABC Open has also resulted in the outdoor exhibition Faces of Townsville to coincide with The Percivals

Faces of Townsville displayed works in nine locations in the CBD, in Flinders Square and at James Cook University, with 19 portraits in total displayed as backlit photographs and large-scale paste-ups on highly visible buildings.

The local portraits for the exhibition were created as a part of ABC Open’s Snapped project. Each month Snapped creates a challenge to help amateur photographers to learn new techniques.

Snapped recently asked photographers to take portraits that captured the many faces of Australia. Over 1000 portraits were submitted, including many from North Queensland.

2013/2014 has seen The Percivals once again grow and innovate, and the overwhelming support of the community and interest from around the country has ensured this will continue to be the case when the biennial celebration returns in 2016.