Danae Thyssen, founder of For Art Sake is a passionate and creative artist. Danae has developed the FOR ART SAKE ART PRIZE as part of the 2019 Adelaide Fringe Festival. Sam About Town was lucky to chat to Danae recently to find out more.
SAT: Let’s start with the exciting news that there is still time for artists to enter! The deadline has been extended until midnight 21 January 2019. Could you tell us more about the prize and the exhibition.
DT: Absolutely. We are looking for artists who can create the best visual interpretation of a wonderful SA-based kids charity – Treasure Boxes. Entrants are to present a visual representation of the work Treasure Boxes does for the community or the issues their clients face in their preferred digital media format. Eg. Participants can either explore the support Treasure Boxes offers, the helping hand, the guidance, the support and kindness shown; or the issues their clients face, such as homelessness, poverty, grief or abandonment etc. They can be abstract in nature as long as the artist statement ties the artwork to the exhibition theme.
Entries are open to artistic interpretation.The artworks submitted can consist of any 2D digital medium, including; photography, digital media and graphic design, or high quality reproductions paintings and drawings.
SAT: Treasure Boxes is a charity close to your heart. Could you tell us why you chose to support it?
DT: Many of Treasure Boxes clients are women and children affected by Domestic Violence. I personally know many people affected by domestic violence and am known for creating artworks that address this topic to raise awareness. So when my husband and I were invited to be official ambassadors for the charity, it seemed like a good fit as it is a cause that I already support. The art prize is one of the events we have undertaken to raise crucial funds and awareness of the wonderful work Treasure Boxes is doing for the community.
SAT: Apart from being a meaningful theme, it is also a theme offering the opportunity for a wide range of artistic interpretations. What type of entries have you received so far?
DT: Participants have entered a variety of artworks from very different approaches. Some represent the charity and the support they offer, such as representing the guidance, the support and kindness shown; others have made reference to the issues their clients face, such as homelessness, poverty, grief or abandonment etc. The submitted entries vary from being a direct interpretation to abstract in nature.
SAT: The exhibition has some excellent prizes including a People’s Choice Award. Could you outline those for us?
DT: The winner will receive 8 of their prints professionally mounted on Dibond, by the industry preferred and respected company, Atkins. All artists know what a valuable prize this is! Total value $2,160. The winner will also receive 6 x 2hr professional coaching sessions from Passion and Purpose Enterprises, who deliver customised training and coaching solutions for corporate teams and individuals to support clients to achieve enhanced performance and well being within their professional lives.Valued at $1,560
Total prize value $3,720
Peoples Choice Award Receives 4 x 2hr professional coaching sessions from Passion and Purpose Enterprises, Valued at $1,040. Plus limited edition print by Mark Kimber; The Pale Mirror, Giclee print, 40 x 40cm, 2011. Valued at $1,300 (Total prize value $2,340)
All 12 finalists entries will have their artworks printed and mounted on DiBond with hanger attached (valued at $270ea) ready for exhibition, courtesy of our sponsor, Atkins Technicolour. Finalists will also be included in the Treasure Boxes 2020 fundraising calendar.
SAT: The opening night event sounds very exciting!
DT: Yes, the announcement of the winner & peoples choice award will be at an exclusive event on 13 Feb, 2019. There will be classical guitar by Dylan Boller and spoken word by Peter Leske with a glass of wine and nibbles, whilst we celebrate the premier event of the latest SA visual arts prize. The event is from 6-8pm. Lindsay Estate is also one of our generous sponsors who will supply the wine for the evening for our guests to enjoy.
Information can be found on the Facebook events page:
We would love to see you there.
The exhibition will run from the 14th February – 13th March 2019 at Atkins Gallery at Atkins Photo Lab Gallery, 89 Fullarton Rd, Kent Town, SA, 5067
More information here.
Information about the charity Treasure Boxes can be found here:
