New-look Sweatbox Art Exhibition for 2011

• About Wentworth Arts

IT’S back for 2011, and with some interesting changes to broaden its appeal for both artists and the viewing public.

This year’s Wentworth Arts/Sunbeam Foods Sweatbox and Agri Art Exhibition is the latest incarnation of a unique arts event that has cemented a place on Sunraysia’s creative calendar.

Offering $3500 in prize money, this year’s competition categories have been reworked to open the door to a wider range of works.
While a strong focus on art and furniture made from dried fruits industry materials including the iconic sweatbox, and dip tins, hessian and rack wire remains, a widening of the scope of the competition for 2011 sees the first-time inclusion of the ‘horticultural industry’ category.

This, West Darling Arts development officer and Wentworth Arts committee member, James Giddey, said paves the way for art and furniture to be made from “secondhand items integral to Sunraysia’s horticultural sector.”
“That includes viticulture and orchard crops like citrus,” he explained.
“Entries in this category can now include any of the materials from the dried fruits industry, as well as recycled steel, timber or plastics used in other horticultural pursuits.”

The categories and prize money for this year’s competition are: Dried Fruits Industry ($750); Horticultural Industry ($750); First Time Entry($250); Youth (U18)($250); and the popular People’s Choice ($250).
There is also the Sunbeam Foods Sweatbox and Agri Art Major Exhibition Prize, valued at $1200, to be awarded to the most outstanding work in the 2011 showcase as determined by the judging panel.
The judges this year are unchanged from last year. They are James Giddey, Mildura Rural City Council’s Julian Bowron, and Sunbeam Food’s David Swain.

James explained that adding new categories was nothing new for the organisers, and that the sweatbox exhibition had evolved every year.

“The categories, for example, have changed with the times,” he said. “We’ve had special categories in the past, the majority coinciding with important events like Wentworth’s 150th birthday celebrations and the Paddle Steamer Ruby’s 100th birthday.”
This year the exhibition has been timed to coincide with the Great Wentworth Tractor Rally, offering those attending that event the opportunity to experience a truly unique arts event.

James said the inclusion of the new Horticultural Industry category had been done after comprehensive discussions between the Wentworth Arts committee members and naming rights sponsor Sunbeam Foods.
“It is an indication of how the competition has grown and changed over the year,” he said.
“We’re now really looking forward to how entrants interpret the new Horticultural Industry category.
“It certainly offers plenty of scope to get creative.”
James said it had been included to give people who like to work with metal as well as wood a way to take part.
“It will offer entrants a new palette of materials and textures to work with.”

Key dates for this year’s event include the close of entries on Friday, June 17 before the exhibition in the Wentworth Town Hall from Saturday, July 16 to Sunday, July 24.

The exhibition will be open 11am to 4pm Monday to Friday; and from10am to 4pm on the weekends.
Entry, as has become tradition, will be by gold coin donation.
Sweatboxes and bulk dried fruit bins are available to intending entrants. Contact Wentworth Arts on 0428 882 525 or 0427 745 494; or email jgiddey1@bigpond.com.

Entry forms for 2011 have been posted to previous contestants, while new exhibitors should use the contact numbers above to secure an entry form and explanatory letter.

The entry fee is a modest $10 per work, with each exhibitor being limited to two works.

James said special mention must be made of Sunbeam Foods’ ongoing commitment to the annual exhibition as naming rights sponsor.
“We are fortunate to have one of the region’s leading corporate identities encouraging arts in our area, and their support is such a good fit for the competition with its focus on the dried fruits industry and wider horticultural sector.”

2011 Sweatbox & Agri Art Entry Form