By Luke Voogt
One of Australia’s most prestigious art prizes could feature local art, with Torquay’s Jacki Burke making the semi-finals of the Doug Moran Portrait prize.
Jacki was one of 104 artists to make the semi-final, out of more than 1000 entries nationwide.
“It’s very exciting – it’s a big deal apparently,” she said.
“I’ve won small awards in local arts societies but this is the first major award that I’ve been nominated in.”
Jacki made the shortlist with her portrait of prolific Australian artist Ray Crooke – himself an Archibald winner.
Ray died at the age of 93 in December 2015 and was famous for painting portraits of native people from New Guinea, Tahiti and Fiji.
Jacki said it was a privilege to meet Ray in the last few months of his life.
“He was a really sweet, generous man – just the salt of the earth.”
Jacki had been searching for “someone interesting to paint” when a girlfriend mentioned Ray Crooke was her uncle.
She met with Ray and his family, getting a first-hand look at decades of unseen work.
“His whole house had paintings from front to back,” she said.
“All artists sort of have a stockpile and to see his unseen work was just incredible.”
Jacki painted a portrait of Ray going through photos of some of his favourite works.
She said Ray had spoken of his love of travelling to the Pacific islands to meet the people there.
“Even the shirt he had on was from the islands, it was a historical print that he had on.”
Jackie is the only artist from Greater Geelong and the Surf Coast to make the semi-finals.
She will find out next month if she’s made the final group of 30 artists in the running for $150,000 top prize.
“I’m over the moon,” she said.
“Even if I don’t become a finalist I’m still ecstatic. It’s recognition for a lot of years of work.“
Jacki will feature as the Artist in Residence in the spring edition of Geelong Coast Magazine, which comes out soon.
