Artist Jo Wassell wins top prize at Great Southern Art Award

Artist Jo Wassell will be the latest contributor to the City of Albany’s art collection after taking out the top prize at this year’s Great Southern Art Award.

Wassell’s pandemic inspired piece Siblings won the City of Albany Acquisitive Prize, earning her $5000 and the opportunity for a supported exhibition or a month working from Vancouver Arts Centre.

Adjudicators James Davies, Annette Davis and Paul Moncrieff chose Wassell’s piece from 66 entries from artists across the Great Southern, before announcing the winner at the award’s official opening at Albany Town Hall on Thursday.

“The work has been produced in a sensitive and appropriate manner pertinent to the contemporary experience that backs up the work and approach extremely well,” the judges said about Wassell’s artwork.

“A deceptively simple work that is very well resolved.”

Five category winners shared in $10,000 at this year’s ceremony.

Carol Farmer won the Works on Paper Award, for an “innovative and involved approach” to documenting the landscape in her piece Intrusion.

Washout Woogenellup by Andy Dolphin won the Paint Award, described as an “extremely well executed, atmospheric and accomplished work”.

Merry Robertson’s piece We are the Guardians won the 3D Award.

The exhibition is on to May 15.