Victorian artist Glenda Nicholls has been named the winner of the 2015 Deadly Art award in the state’s Indigenous art awards.
Nicholls received the award for her woven sculptural work A Woman’s Rite of Passage, featuring three life-sized woven cloaks created to represent Indigenous women and their role in Welcome to Country ceremonies.
Nicholls’ work was selected from 41 finalists. According to a statement, the artist was taught to weave by her mother and grandmother, and is committed to passing on the traditional skills and techniques to her grandchildren. The award is worth $30,000.
It’s the 10th year for the Indigenous art awards that were set up to increase the recognition of South-East Australian Indigenous art. Other winners include artists Troy Firebrace for Galaxy Swirl, Peter Waples-Crowe for My Dingo Spirit, SOS: They Kill My Kin(d) and Brendan Kennedy Wangi Withinu Ngauwingi Walwam
Raymond Young, who reportedly began making art through a prisons community program, received the award for three dimensional works for his work From the Ground Up.
All the works will be on display at the Art Gallery of Ballarat until 20 September. Audiences are invited to vote for the Creative Victoria People’s Choice Award, at the Art Gallery of Ballarat or via www.creative.vic.gov.au until 7 September.
