Manjimup’s annual cherry festival kicks off with the 2022 Manjimup Cherry Harmony Festival Art Awards

Manjimup’s hotly anticipated annual cherry festival has kicked off in creative fashion. More than 50 people from across the South West gathered at the Manjimup Art Gallery for the Manjimup Cherry Harmony Festival Art Awards on November 18 — marking the event’s official opening. Nineteen entrants — seven from outside the Shire of Manjimup — submitted their work under the theme, ‘What would you paint on your limb prosthesis?’ in the Open Class (2D) category. At the grand opening, a secret class was revealed that included 3D works created by artists located within the Shire which wowed the crowd who expected to see only 2D works. Mr Greening lost his leg in a motorcycle accident in 1982 but after struggling to find a prosthetic leg that was comfortable and worked correctly he decided to design his own. He now co-owns a company and custom-prints designs on to the prosthetics to individualise them. Ms Dunstan said the surprise 3D category was created when Mr Greening donated a box of blank limb prothesis sockets for the artists to work on. Open Class (2D) winner was Everlyn Sturges with her work Thelymitra. The Shire Artist Prize went to Marilyn Barrington with Stand Tall. Highly commended in the Open Class (2D) went to Barbara Maumill and Elaine Steele. Holly Lamey was the winner of the 3D Class. Highly commended in the 3D Class went to Karen Wiedemann. MCHFAA judge Clyfe McGill said this year’s exhibition was interesting and very difficult to judge but Everlyn Sturges was a deserving winner. Mr McGill said he really liked Everlyn Sturges’ artwork and appreciated how it dealt with the fragility of the environment. He said his overall impression of the artists’ submissions was “awesome and gorgeous” and that the exhibition itself was wonderful. “I feel very serious about that,” he said, “I liked it a lot. “It’s good for us as an audience, good for us as artists, and good for the community.” The exhibition is open to the public until 4pm December 13 during regular MAG opening hours.