Local artists punching above their weight

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Outside The Frame_DSC3608 — Carey Baptist College (Harrisdale) Visual Arts Coordinator Paul Leeming with “Hierarchy” by Keira Pember

A record number of young artists have been exhibited in this year’s Outside The Frame Awards at the Armadale District Hall.

A total of 99 senior high school students from all over Perth have had their work professionally curated and judged in the City of Armadale’s annual showcase.

Twenty schools are represented in the exhibition which closes on Sunday, including five local high schools.

The city established the Outside the Frame Art Awards 25 years ago as a platform to assist developing young artists and to celebrate the artistic voice and talents of the next generation of creators.

“It’s a real privilege to get a snapshot of how our young people are seeing and feeling about the world today,” Mayor Ruth Butterfield said.

With only a handful of opportunities in Perth for young people to gain real industry experience as exhibited artists, the endurance of Armadale’s Outside The Frame Awards holds a special significance.

“Recognising and showcasing our emerging artists is really important for the development of the WA art scene. We take pride in the longevity of this awards, and the ever-increasing depth of talent that we get to share every year,” Mayor Butterfield said.

The City of Armadale really does punch above its weight in the art scene; the city’s landmark Minnawarra Art Awards, along with its generous prizes, attract the attention of artists all over the state each year, and the Armadale Hills Open Studios Arts Trail draws in thousands of visitors annually.

“I think it’s because we have so many talented artists living here in the hills and in Armadale itself. We’re very lucky in that regard,” Mayor Ruth Butterfield said.

“We found something that works, the city has continued to support it, and now we’re becoming known for it.”

This year’s Outside the Frame Awards were a good indication of the strength of that homegrown talent.

KT Johnstone (yr 12) from Armadale Senior High School with “A Cold Embrace”

And the issues raised through the works on display were enlightening. Local artists asked how much is enough? And what are the consequences of overconsumption? While others explored the tight grip of social anxiety, unrealistic expectations of perfection, the suffocating squeeze of predetermined gender roles, and a loss of childhood innocence.

And it was clear to see how the last hellish few years had moulded the inner worlds of our next generation of thought leaders; while some have adopted a fatalistic approach to the future, others are still clinging to hope for a better tomorrow.

Indy Tyrer ( yr 12 ) from Providence Christian College with “Priced To Live”

Carey Baptist College’s Keira Pember made a comment on the increasing disparity between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’ in society, with her abstract sculpture ‘Hierarchy’. The brutal and rigid clay figures evoked a feeling of “indifference” to those who are left in “constant submission”.

“The sculpture helps promote awareness of the segregation between members of society, helping us rethink our views on ourselves and others,” she said.

The judges, and event curator Julianne Mackay, were glowing in their assessment of Keira’s work.

“As the only abstract piece, it embodies a daring risk that pays off through its excellent execution and technique. This work challenges our perceptions and invites us to see beyond the conventional,” Julianne Mackay said.

Her visual arts teacher, Paul Leeming, who accepted the award on her behalf, was thrilled by her success.

“I thought she might win something – her work was certainly good enough and she worked very hard on it. But it’s still exciting,” he said.

Under Mr Leeming’s guidance, students from Carey Baptist at Harrisdale have notched up quite a few accolades in recent years, including coming away with the Out of the Frame Printmaking category award in 2020 and 2022, and being named a finalist in the Lester Prize – a prestigious national youth portraiture competition.

Mr Leeming said he makes a point of finding opportunities for his students to gain some real-world experience in the art industry.

In her opening night address, Mayor Ruth Butterfield gave a special shout out to teachers, like Mr Leeming, who “had no small part” in helping to create the 99 insightful pieces currently on display.

“I was an art teacher some time ago, and I’d like to thank the art teachers in the room for sometimes squeezing the work out of these young people,” Mayor Butterfield said.

“I know how hard it was to get people to relax enough to put a mark on a page and reveal themselves.

“For the artist, it’s an incredibly intimate experience to put your thoughts onto a page. It’s a personal journey, and it’s a very brave thing to do.

“We thank you very much for sharing that with us.”

Congratulations to this years’ award winners: