finalist Judges
Jo O’Toole
Curator
GOSFORD REGIONAL GALLERY
Jo O’Toole is an accomplished curator and established artist with over 28 years’ experience in the Australian visual arts sector.
With a deep passion for contemporary Australian art, Jo has curated numerous exhibitions, developed engaging public programs, and coordinated inspiring educational initiatives. She is dedicated to fostering artistic expression and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Since joining Gosford Regional Gallery in January 2023, Jo has been the Education and Public Programs Officer, Acting Curator and Acting Director before transitioning into her current full-time position.
Jo holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Design, majoring in painting and printmaking from RMIT University in Melbourne, with post-graduate studies in printmaking from Sydney College of the Arts. She also earned an Advanced Diploma of Fine Arts with a major in sculpture from Newcastle Art School, Hunter TAFE, and is nearing completion of a Master of Teaching in Education from The University of Newcastle.
Gavin Vitullo
SCULPTOR
Gavin Vitullo is a multi-disciplinary artist. He has completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Newcastle, following an Advanced Diploma of Fine Arts at Newcastle Art School (TAFE). Gavin is most recognised for his sculptural works, having accumulated numerous awards and accolades. These include consecutive honours in the Newcastle Emerging Artist Prize, the Hunter Region Botanical Gardens Sculpture Prize, and the Sculptures in the Vineyards Sculpture Prize.
In 2017 his first public sculpture, Undercurrent, was installed in the Lake Macquarie area. In 2023 his commissioned public sculpture for Landcare Australia, titled Imprint, was also realised and installed in the Lake Macquarie Area. A continuation of the considered and philosophical process is evident through Vitullo’s amalgamation of reclaimed, salvaged, and sustainable materials. His affinity with the natural world is ever-present, as he combines concept and craftsmanship harmoniously through stone, wood, and all things organic.
FIRST ROUND JUDGES
Jann Kesby
Drawing inspiration from her surroundings on the north coast of NSW, Jann plays with textures and neutral colours to create functional tableware for the considered home.
Jann’s training began in a production workshop on the outskirts of Sydney during the 1970’s with hands on practical training. This was followed by a traineeship at Sturt Craft Workshops, Mittagong – the first production workshop established in Australia.
Following her traineeship, Jann moved back to the Mid North Coast of NSW where she established her own workshop, specialising in wood firing.
Jann has gained Certificate IV in Visual Arts, taught in Arts & Media through TAFE NSW, presented at and attended workshops, conferences and residences internationally. She was the manager and coordinator of the Dunghutti Ngaku Aboriginal Art Gallery from 2009 to 2018.
Jann’s work is held in public and private collections throughout Australia and internationally
Michael Sprott
Artist – Curator – Installer
Michael is a Sydney-based artist, working predominately in transparent resins. His works explore repetition and variation in nature through changes in sculptural forms.
His work can be seen at michaelsprott.net
He has exhibited in a variety of gallery and outdoor exhibitions including:
Sydney Botanic Gardens – Fungi x Botanica – 2021
Be Brave Gallery – Avalon – 2020
Sydney Pop Gallery – Hunters Hill 2019, Mosman 2020
Sculpture@Bayside – 2019
He is currently working with Artspace Gallery, Woolloomooloo and National Art School, Biennale of Sydney, Articulate Gallery Leichhardt, and See Street Gallery, Meadowbank
Steve Pickering
Steve Pickering has been heavily involved in the arts in the Clarence Valley, both as a gallery owner and also a committee member on the Clarence Valley Cultural Committee. As president of Ulmarra Village Inc (the Ulmarra progress association), he organised community events which were a wonderful way to bring the community together during the days of COVID.
He opened the Coldstream Gallery in the historic river-port village of Ulmarra, with his partner, in 2017. As an advocate of local artists and creatives, he realises the importance of the creative arts and associated industries. Steve has been an invited judge at art competitions including the Jacaranda Art Exhibition, Wild about Wooli and the Lilli Pilli Art Show, amongst others. Steve is currently a board member and treasurer of Arts Northern Rivers as well as a first-term councillor on the Clarence Valley Council, where his aim is to strengthen the focus on arts, culture, heritage and youth within the Clarence Valley and Northern Rivers region. The importance of arts and culture in repairing and rebuilding communities can not be underestimated. Arts are the glue that brings communities together.
Marc McIntyre:
I have been co-owner of the Coldstream Gallery since 2017 and have been immersed in the arts and culture of the Northern Rivers. Since moving to the region, I have judged many art competitions including The Lilli Pilli Art prize, The Wooli art show, Grafton art clubs Jacaranda art competition to name a few. I have strong passion for supporting local artists/artisans and providing an engaging space for them to display their work and to promote the amazing local talent to a wider audience via the Coldstream Gallery. I am also very keen to encourage young emerging artists and artisans to follow their artistic passions and support them from the onset of an idea through to representation on a commercial level.
Arts and culture are far more important to life than a lot of people realise and I endeavour to promote and enjoy what it has to offer. I have had the pleasure of knowing and supporting many friends and family over the last 40 years in their artistic practices and have always enjoyed watching them evolve and grow in their field of practice.