THE works by 26 artists for the third Wildlife Art @ Discovery Exhibition were this year selected by an independent panel of judges with expertise in both the life sciences and the arts.

The panel – artist Julie Bradley, scientist Leo Joseph and natural history researcher Penny Olsen – were all on hand for the announcements of winners at the CSIRO Discovery Centre on April 11.

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Olsen, as the guest speaker, explained their criteria – artistic interpretation, technical skill and natural history knowledge regarding Australian native flora and fauna.

In judging realistic artworks, they had expected accuracy, she said, but with abstract works the balance had shifted to creativity.

As well, artist Janet Matthews fromVictoria spoke about her commitment to the  subject matter. Painting a numbat mother with babies on her back had immediately raised the question in her mind, “how can you possibly go out and kill them?”

The exhibition continues until April 22 in Canberra at the CSIRO Discovery Centre.

[box] The winners:

Two-dimensional category

Rikki Fisher “The Eye Of The Curlew”, overall highly commended

Adrienne Conway, “Look At Me”, highly commended

Marjorie Roach, “Woodswallows”, highly commended

Two-dimensional category, special awards

Kathleen Kain, “Spinifex Hopping Mice”, best natural history theme

Gerry Heyen and, “Young Kangaroo”, best emotive theme

Jacqui King, “Evening Vision”, best application of chosen medium

Seabrook, “Preserving Nature,” best conservation theme

John Curnow, “Muscus (75B)”, best innovative technique

Three-dimensional category

Robert Fry “Poetry In Motion”, highly commended award

Andrew Henley, “Subnivean”, Winner

Joint overall winners

Linda Weil, “Masked Owl (In Hiding)”, overall winner 1

Janet Matthews, “Hitching A Ride”, overall winner 2 [/box]