The Echo

This year the Winter Magic  was both bigger and better than the ever before. Over 50 businesses in and around Katoomba St displayed artworks, so that Katoomba’s shop windows were transformed into a street-sized gallery for the pleasure of passers-by.
The theme was “When the Stars Come Out”, and the artists of the Blue Mountains produced some fantastic pieces with a huge variety of interpretations.

“We had 67 entries this year, a huge increase from last year and a wonderful mix of 2D, 3D and installation. We also had a few young people enter this year exhibiting work of a high standard,” said Art Street co-ordinator Sally Grant.
The judges this year were local artists John Ellison and Tara Lilburne, and Blue Mountains Cultural Centre Director, Simon Ambrose. The Mayoral Award for Overall Art Street Winner went to Jane Stapleford, for her star studded gathering of clothespeg movie stars, ‘Peggywood’. It appeared in the window of Lloyds Jewellers. Jane painted a series of pegs, each one a “star” (right). She even painted one of the jeweller of Lloyds Jewellers which was a great touch and showed for a wonderful collaboration between artist and shop owner.
People’s Choice Award went to Roderick Kiredor for ‘Winter Queen’, which was exhibited in The Heart of Stone, and the Artist and Business Collaboration Award went to Very Fashion, in Waratah St, and the Maternity Coalition.
In the 2D Category, the winner was Evan Wells for ‘Microcosm’  in Graham Chuck’s Optometrist, and The Hatter’s Café hosted the winner of the sculpture/installation category, Pam de Groot for ‘Planetary Tribal’,
The Textile Group, exhibited in Zuri won the Community Group Award for their piece ‘Starlings’. The Under 18’s winner was Lilianne Ivins for ‘When The Lights Go Out, The Stars Come Up’, which was displayed in Mountain Style.
And finally, the winner of the “Most Magic” Special Award was Peter Shoemark for ‘Twinkle’, an artwork made entirely of found objects which appeared in the window of MacArthurs Arcade.
Prizes included $1,000 generously sponsored by the Cultural Centre, a Mayoral Prize of $1,000 and $500 worth of Matisse Art materials from The Artist’s Store, Katoomba.
Art Street has received some funding from ArtStart, a NSW Government Program, to run art workshops to provide a space for young people to learn new skills and techniques, and aim to encourage them to display their work in next year’s Art Street.