Moments after the doors closed on the 12th King Valley Art Show, the organising committee raised their glasses to a record number of art exhibits of over 300, from artists across Victoria, South Australia and NSW, a record number of sales, awards to the value of $11,300, generous sponsors, a successful gala opening and over 1000 visitors in three days.
This year recognised the contribution the Pizzini Family have made to the King Valley Art Show since its inception. They have been a major sponsor for more than a decade and now they would like to give others the oportunity to become a the major sponsor. Fred Pizzini said, " One of the benefits of being the major sponsor is that our art collection has been enhanced with some interesting, beautiful pieces."
Again held in the tobacco shed at King Valley Cucina, the grand prize winner was awarded to Chris Sullivan with
'Gum Tree' awarded by the 2009 judge Petra Reece. The people's choice award was awarded to entry number 154 - Janis Lawler - 'Hot Auction' .
2009 poster PDF
2009 Sponsors
2009 Awards
Record numbers of people attended the Gala Opening of the 2008 King Valley Art Show in its new venue – King Valley Cucina.
The judge, renowned artist Robert Maclaurin, announced a series of well received prizes to the large and attentive audience with the Grand Prize being awarded to Melbourne artist Jim Pavlidis for his evocative and atmospheric painting “Bulldog”.
All present enjoyed the high standard of art works, a terrific new venue and wonderful food and wine.
This was the eleventh annual King Valley Art Show and it seems to get bigger, bolder and more popular every year. The move from the beautiful and historic Gracebrook to the old tobacco shed at the King Valley Cucina tested the dimensions of the new venue with 288 artworks and the high number of patrons on Opening night . The Art Show is now firmly fixed in many people’s schedules for years to come.
Many people in attendance commented on the judge’s pertinent and judicious comments with every prize. He managed to inform and educate those gathered there on every piece he chose and spoke to many people well into the night.
As with all Art Shows a little controversy doesn’t go astray. This year the judge was unable to find a suitable winner for the “Best Contemporary” section. The organising committee has begun to discuss ways to avoid this in the future but stands by the judge’s right to decline to award a prize where “works are not of a sufficiently high standard”.
The People’s Choice winner was Beryl Gay for her work “The Lord of the Bush”.
2008 Poster...
2008 Sponsors...
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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, Jan Lawler’s pastel drawing “What Bird
Is That”.
2007 also saw the Packing Room Prize become a sponsored award.
2007 sponsors
Photo:Judge, Sam Hill-Smith, shaking hands with
Rural City of Wangaratta Mayor,
Don Joyce,
at the Official Opening
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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 thos e 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
Peoples choice award, Malcom
Webster: Flowerdale
Valley Fit for Kings,
Chloe Bugelly,
12/06/2006 Article in The Border Mail
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The 2005 show built on the success of 2004 with another wonderful
show hung at Gracebrook Vineyard. 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. 2005 Prize winners and sponsors
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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 a s 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. Other prize winners
Photo: David Maples and artist Anton Costantino with some of
Anton's work for the 2004 exhibition at "Gracebrook"
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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. Other prize winners
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.
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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.
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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 include
Tom Bradbury, June Madden, Rodney Symmons and Ron Muller. Other Prize Winners.
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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, click here for complete list of winners . TOP
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”, click here for other winners and awards . TOP
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”, click here for 1998 awards and winners .
Photo: Jim
van Geet at Dal Zotto's Tobacco
Shed Gallery, 1998
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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. Natalie 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", click here for the list of awards and winners for 1997 .
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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 Natalie Pizzini the new
manager of the Mountain View Hotel in Whitfield.
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