The 2010 John Fries Memorial Prize @ Viscopy

The winners of the inaugural John Fries Memorial Prize were announced at the opening of the exhibition, held at Viscopy’s new contemporary art space, Blackfriars off Broadway last night.

The competition was open to emerging Australian artists of all ages and disciplines who are not represented in a public art collection.  Initially the John Fries Memorial Prize offered a first prize of $10,000 to the winning artist and a solo exhibition at Blackfriars off Broadway.

Hannah Bertram, An Ordinary Kind Of Ornament, 2010
© Hannah Bertram. Licensed by Viscopy 2010

Viscopy and the organisers of the John Fries Memorial Prize thanked the 300 artists who submitted entries. Sixteen finalists were selected and their work is now on exhibit at Blackfriars off Broadway until 30 September 2010. The calibre of the work submitted was of such a high standard that selecting just one winner too difficult so the judges decided a first and second prize should be awarded.

The winners of the John Fries Memorial Prize 2010 are:

First Prize $10,000 Hannah Bertram.
Second prize $5,000 Melanie Irwin.

Melanie Irwin, untitled (action_structure_drawing) 2010
© Melanie Irwin. Licensed by Viscopy 2010 

The John Fries Memorial Prize has been donated by the Fries family in memory of former Viscopy Director and Honorary Treasurer, John Fries, who made a remarkable contribution to the life and success of Viscopy. Vivienne Fries, John’s wife, announced the winners and presented the prizes. She said “John was a very supportive and generous person, always encouraging people to pursue their dreams and ambitions. I’m sure John would be very proud of this award.” Viscopy chair, Jeremy Thorpe said the prize “...acknowledges the difficulty many visual artists face in making a living through their art.”

Award presentation, left to right: Hannah Bertram, Vivienne Fries and Lewis Kaplan

The JFMP Finalists exhibition featuring artwork by Hannah Bertram, Jessica Bradford, Deidre But-husaim, Susan Frisch, Christopher Fulham, Ike Glatz, Sarah Goffman, Melanie Irwin, Chrissie Ianssen, Emily McIntosh, Sanné Mestrom, Jamie North, Kenzee Patterson, Gary Smith, Kurt Sorensen and Layla Vardo, continues until 30 September.

Blackfriars off Broadway, 1 Blackfriars St, Chippendale, Sydney, NSW 2008. Opening hours: Wednesday to Friday 1 – 5 pm. Phone (02) 9310 2018. http://www.viscopy.org.au/current-exhibition

Viscopy is Australia and New Zealand’s not-for-profit copyright collecting organisation for the visual arts providing copyright licensing services on behalf of our members to a wide and varied customer base. Viscopy represents approximately 43% of Australian and New Zealand artists and their beneficiaries and 40,000 international artists and beneficiaries in Australian and New Zealand territories through reciprocal agreements with 45 visual arts rights management agencies around the world. For further information contact Viscopy on (02) 9310 2018 or www.viscopy.org.au