The Hunters Hill Art Exhibition commenced in 1955 and has grown from strength to strength. The exhibition has continued its aim of encouraging involvement in art and sculpture. The works selected demonstrate exceptional quality across a broad range of subject matter, approaches, style and media including painting, drawing, mixed media and sculpture.
Each year the long-running exhibition and art prize features well-known regional and local artists as well as emerging talent. The exhibition showcases paintings, sculptures, watercolour, printmaking, photography, pottery, craft and mixed media.
The establishment of the Exhibition was due, in no small measure, to the initiative of the long serving Town Clerk of the day Roy Stuckey, and to the enthusiasm and hard work of a number of local art identities, including Hal Missingham (then Director of the Art Gallery of NSW), Nora Heysen and Harry Hibble. This initial presentation was, in fact, a Loan Exhibition, consisting of paintings lent by residents, and over 3000 people came to the Town Hall to see the 118 items on view.
Encouraged by this success, the Council decided that the 1956 exhibition would be competitive (with prizes), and solicited work from members of several of the leading Art Societies of the State. The scope was widened the following year to embrace an Open section and a category devoted to paintings of local subjects.
1960 saw a number of changes, including the establishment of a section for local artists, and the inclusion of sculpture and ceramics. The anonymously – donated Joubert and Jeanneret Awards (for subjects within the Municipality) were initiated in 1972 and continued for many years.
Following the disastrous fire which all but destroyed the Hunters Hill Town Hall in January 1978, the venue of the exhibition was transferred to the Villa Maria Parish Hall, whilst rebuilding took place. Upon returning to the somewhat larger auditorium of the new Town Hall, the Exhibition expanded its horizons in 1980 to become the Hunters Hill Art and Craft Exhibition.
A glance through past catalogues of the Hunters Hill Art Exhibition reveals that many very well-known artists have submitted works – John Coburn, Roland Wakelin, Grace Cossington Smith, Desiderius Orban and Tim Storrier – among many others. Such names as Judy Casab, Lloyd Rees, Jeffrey Smart, Tom Bass, James Gleeson, Liz Ann MacGregor OBE, John Winch, Sylvia Ross, Ian Grant, Jenny Sages and Matthew Lynn are noted as judges, along with many equally talented contemporaries.
And, behind the scenes, as it were, have been all those dedicated people who have made up the Council’s Art and Craft Advisory Committees for the past 70 years – their reward, no doubt, the satisfaction of helping put together what is acknowledged as one of this State’s most prestigious quality Art Exhibitions.