Oexmann Art Award Exhibition
Tuesday, 05 June, 2007

An exhibition displaying winning and selected entries from the tenth biennial Oexmann Art Awards Competition opened on Saturday 2 June.

Nearly 200 entries were judged in the adult category and the winner was Jane Eaton with 'Clara in a Fish' (a section of which is pictured right)

There was a varied selection in the under-18 category, with ten schools across the county participating in the competition this year, resulting in over 200 entries.

The judges, local artists, Helen Stanford, Jenevora Searight and Graham Sproxton, had a long day judging all the entries.

The Oexmann Art Competition was set up in 1988 in memory of Theophila Joan Oexmann (nee Copland-Griffiths) who was raised in Potterne and was a keen amateur painter. The aims of the fund are to encourage and promote artists born or living in Wiltshire, of all ages and abilities

Colvin Chamberlain, the Oexmann Competition Manager, said ‘The judges were particularly impressed with the large number (220) excellent children’s entries. The adult entries (192) were slightly lower than previously, but they maintained the same high standards, although the variety of subjects could have been wider. Art education in Wiltshire is clearly flourishing and great credit goes to the Art Departments of the ten schools that submitted entries (Leaden Hall School, Salisbury; Neston Primary School, Corsham; Salisbury Cathedral School; Stonar School, Atworth; St John’s School, Marlborough; Walwayne Court School, Trowbridge; Woodford Valley School, Woodford, nr Salisbury; Heywood Preparatory School, Corsham; Burbage Primary School; Nursteed Primary, Devizes). They showed a remarkable freedom of approach using many different media. This is an exhibition that should not be missed.

The prize-giving and exhibition preview were held on Saturday 2 June. The exhibition runs in the Museum’s Art Gallery until 8 July. All the children’s entries are on display in the Museum’s lecture hall and Natural History Gallery, also until 8 July.

End