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Western Australia’s most prestigious portraiture exhibition is coming to Esperance for the first time next week.
The Lester Prize features the work of Australia’s best emerging and established artists and will be showcased at the Cannery Arts Centre, free of charge, from June 6 to July 20.
The winner of the Lester Prize, Ben Howe will be residing at the Cannery for one week during the exhibition too.
Mr Howe’s work, along with the other finalists’, reflect on contemporary social issues and the human experience and reveal the artists’ own journey and connection to their subjects.
Cannery general manager Katie Witt said the exhibition had only ever toured regionally once before, adding that it was a rare and special opportunity to see it in Esperance.
“The artworks are of the highest calibre that we’ve seen in Esperance in the whole gallery,” Ms Witt said.
“I’m excited to have really skilled artists in a variety of mediums producing a quality exhibition.
“It’s just incredible to be able to share this with our community so they don’t have to travel to Perth to see it.”
The official exhibit opening will begin at 5pm next Friday, which Ms Witt said would involve speeches and nibbles, with drinks on offer too.
Ms Witt said the team at the gallery was excited to display such an impressive artistic medium.
“There’s just something very special about portraits and the way an artist has interpreted another person and the story that they tell by doing that portrait,” she said.
“They are very unique and they’re hard to do – it takes a special skill for someone to produce a portrait.”
Ms Witt said activities for a younger audience would take place as well, with a bus subsidy offered to all schools.
“We are really encouraging schools to come and tour, targeted at the older primary aged students and all the high school students,” Ms Witt said.
“Over the school holidays Alex Desebrock, our artistic director, is also creating an activity focused on children’s engagement with the Lester Prize.”
The Cannery collaboration was made possible by the Lester foundation and the Mt Burdett Foundation with additional support from the Esperance Ag Fund.
