David McCourt, Chambers Gorge, Flinders Ranges, oil on canvas. Winner of the 2021 Murray Bridge Rotary Art Show 2D category.

This popular annual community-driven event provides an opportunity for emerging, seasoned and hobbyist artists to exhibit and sell their work, as well as be in the running to win a prize in the categories of 2D, 3D and Photography. This year the exhibition presents 130 works by 60 entrants, in a range of mediums including oil and acrylic paintings, ceramics, metal and found objects sculptures, mixed media assemblages, photographs and works on paper.

2022 JUDGE: TONY KANELLOS, esteemed South Australian Curator. See more information about Tony below.

2022 PRIZE WINNERS

3D Prize Category: 1st ($1,000) Anna Couper, 2nd ($250) Deborah Hooper, 3rd ($100) Audrey van den Heuvel; 2D Prize Category: 1st ($1,000) Thomas Bromley, 2nd ($250) Kathleen Cain, 3rd ($100) Carmen Gibbings-John; Andrew Hay Memorial Photography Prize: 1st ($1,000) Daniel Cazzolato, 2nd ($250) Kaylene Maalste, 3rd ($100) Carol Coventry; Best Compassionate Depiction of an Animal sponsored by Murraylands Animal Welfare Watch, and judged by Ruby Eckermann, MAWW spokesperson: Winner ($200) Carol Coventry.

Tony Kanellos was most recently Director of Carrick Hill, where he saw visitation numbers break previous records. He has frequently partnered with Art Gallery of SA, JamFactory and Guildhouse, both at Carrick Hill and in his previous role as Cultural Collection Manager at the Botanic Gardens, where he was also the Curator of the Museum of Economic Botany from 2004 to 2020. Here he was also responsible for the Library, the Botanic Gardens Art and Archive collections and State Herbarium. Tony played a key role in the restoration of the Museum of Economic Botany and instigated its successful exhibition program that delivered 24 exhibitions and saw visitation to the Museum of Economic Botany grow from 13,000 to 73,000.

Between 2007 and 2010 Tony coordinated the initiative that saw the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium become the first institution outside of North America to obtain accreditation with the American Association of Museums.

Tony has produced numerous books and exhibition catalogues. Two publications, Imitation of Life: a visual catalogue and Out of the past: views of Adelaide Botanic Garden, consecutively won the 2014 and 2015 awards for Best Book at the national Museums Australia Publication Design Awards.