2007
The 10th annual King Valley Art Show was held at Gracebrook Stables with 227 artworks exhibited. Sam Hill Smith of Hill Smith Fine Art Gallery, Adelaide was the judge and $8250 worth of prizes were awarded. 2007 Prize winners

The Grand Prize was awarded to Jan Lawler’s pastel drawing “What Bird Is That”, the first time this award has gone to a pastel drawing.

The judge’s choice was reinforced as being the best work in the show when the people’s choice votes also selected this artwork.

2007 also saw the Packing Room Prize become a sponsored award.

2006
The 2006 King Valley Art Show, was again hung at Gracebrook and awards increased to $10,300. the King Valley Art show has wonderful sponsors such as Pizzini Wines, OP Industries, Sylvia Johansen of Johansen Insurance, Worktrainers Employment Services and Nat Pizzini and her family who have supported us over many years now.

This year the show was privileged to have highly respected artist Peter Churcher as the judge. Mr Churchers comments were:
“In each category I was looking for the work that had some little unique and individual "spark" about it. In choosing the winner in each category I was reminding myself that making art is not about a skillful rendition of a formula but has to have some element of personal discovery and individual flair.

With this in mind, I found myself overlooking those works that followed a pre-determined mould or "look" and was drawn to those works that had something a bit "quirky" and unique about them. In many cases this meant that I ruled out large, impressive pieces that displayed technical bravura, yet slavishly adhering to a known formula and favoured smaller, more individual works that showed that "spark" and personal obsession.

I am aware that some of the sponsors are wine-makers in the region, and I don't need to explain "obsession" to them! I would like to point out that these comments I make about art can easily be applied to their own art of wine-making . . . we remember always those wines that hold their own unique character and step outside the "known" and make their own little bold statement”.  Peter Churcher, King Valley Art Show, 9 June 2006
2006 Prize winners 2006 Sponsors

Valley Fit for Kings, Chloe Bugelly, 12/06/2006 Article in The Border Mail

2005
The 2005 show built on the success of 2004 with another wonderful show hung at Gracebrook. The atmospheric stables added another dimension to the pleasure of viewing some very fine art. The judge for 2005, Jan McNeill was very impressed with the standard of work and awarded the major prize to Anton Costantino, a previous winner, for his work "Strawberry Daiquiri". Other winners included Erna Roche of Lurg who took out both the $2000 and $1000 Best Oils and Lorraine Lewitzka.

TOP

2004
In 2004 David Maples came to the rescue with an offer to use his stables on the family property at King Valley. David had spent many months restoring the 120 year old stables using old tools and traditional methods to make the restoration as authentic as possible yet providing a practical space for the cellar door opening the following year. The committee jumped at the opportunity and set about making the stables work as an exhibition space.

The 2004 King Valley Art Show opened on Friday 11 June at "Gracebrook" as the stables are known. Over 200 artworks were exhibited and the judge was Jeff Wright from Griffith who complimented the diversity and hanging of the show and awarded prizes to a total of $7800. The Grand Winner was Myrtleford artist and ex King Valley resident Jim van Geet for his oil painting "The Violin Maker". Michael Ashby, Wykeham Perry and Lorraine Lewitzka were also among the prize winners. TOP

2003
On Friday 6th June 2003 the King Valley Art Show took place at the Swinburne Pavilion in Whitfield after an eighteen month hiatus.

Peter Caddy judged the show that year and Anton Costantino won the Grand Prize for "The Child in Us" which Peter described thus: "Finely painted with emotional power - relevant to our times. Triggering response to war, drought, fire, hope, shelter, the child and the fragility of life. Icon-like in intensity with deep hued palette". Other winners included Terry Lewitzka, Walter Magilton and Joel Magpayo.

The organising committee was not all that happy with the venue in 2003 especially when the show had to compete with the local footy and the search began for another more suitable space. TOP

2002
In 2002 the King Valley Tourism Association made the brave decision to split the elements of its highly successful Virgin Wine Food and Arts Festival held in November each year into a "Calendar of Events".

After much discussion it was agreed that the King Valley Art Show would take place during the long weekend in June as part of the "Weekend Fit for a King" celebrations with other events to take place in spring and autumn. This change of date coupled with the news that the tobacco shed was no longer available as an exhibition space gave the organising committee much food for thought. It was decided not to hold a show in 2002 and reschedule for the 2003 June long weekend at a new venue. TOP

2001
In 2001 the total value of awards reached $11,500, an outstanding achievement. Mr Herman Pekel judged the works and awarded the Grand Prize of $2,500 to Kevin A. Taylor for "King Valley Vista" a work he considered to be "beautifully executed with well observed tonal variations". Other winners that year included Tom Bradbury, June Madden, Rodney Symmons and Ron Muller. TOP

2000
In 2000 the prizes to be awarded reached a total of $10,000 making the King Valley Art Show the richest in North East Victoria. John Borrack was the judge of the 2000 show which was held at Dal Zotto’s tobacco shed. The Grand Winner this year was Margaret Lourey for "Vineyard Late Shadows" John Borrack commented.. "a vigorous painterly composition with a well considered structural approach achieved by rhythmic tones of colour". Other awardees included Ji Chen, Rosemarie Curry and Nathan Paramanathan. TOP

1999
The 1999 Art Show was again held at Dal Zotto Wines tobacco shed and almost 240 works were hung. As guest speaker, Cynthia Goodman of the Brown Brothers wine family spoke of the emotion involved in producing a piece of artwork and that of a musical performance. Her speech struck a chord with many at the opening and set the scene for a very successful show. Over 500 people visited the exhibition over the King Valley festival weekend and prizes totaling $4,500 were awarded by the judge Leonard Long OAM. Lorraine Burns was awarded the Grand Prize of $1000 for her work “Pink Ladies and Grannies”. TOP

1998
In 1998 the King Valley Art Show moved to a bigger space in Dal Zotto Wines old tobacco shed. Prize money had increased to $3,400 and the bigger exhibition space allowed many more works to be hung. The Grand Winner for 1998 was Terry Lewitzka for his work “Full Moonscape”. TOP

Jim van Geet at Dal Zotto's Tobacco Shed Gallery, 1998

1997
Jim van Geet had a vision of an art show to be held in the heart of the King Valley that would encourage local artists as well as attract accomplished artists from Melbourne and interstate. Nat Pizzini with her usual drive and enthusiasm joined with Jim in getting the art show off the ground. Together with David Briggs, another local artist and members of the newly established King Valley Tourism Group the first King Valley Art Show was held in November 1997 at the Whitfield Uniting Church as part of the King Valley Virgin Wine Food and Arts Festival. The first judge was Mr Lance McNeill and prizes totaling $2,150 were awarded. The grand winner for 1997 was Neville Connor for his work "On the Edge of Town, Whitfield". TOP

1996
In 1996 a group of King Valley business people met at the local pub and decided to form a tourism group that would promote the largely undiscovered King Valley as a tourism destination. Among this group were Jim van Geet artist and then owner of the Black Range Trout Farm and Nat Pizzini new manager of the Mountainview Hotel in Whitfield. TOP