THE News 44th Mornington Art Show has broken records, with 350 at the opening night and sales bringing total profits to more than $1 million.
The show opened last Thursday night with Miss Australia International Jessica Martini cutting a ribbon before guests viewed the artworks to the jazz of the Balnarring Bakery Trio.
During the week the show broke all previous daily attendance records, with more than 250 visitors each day.
More than 90 paintings were sold and judge Lyn Mellady awarded the Best Exhibit to “The Thinker” by Rosemary (Todman) Parrant.
The peoples choice was “German Shepherd Puppy” by Jos Coufrier followed by Rebecca Lord-Johnson’s “Self Portrait”
“The local community and the peninsula visitors have certainly endorsed this art show as one of the biggest and best quality shows in Victoria,” Mornington Rotary Club’s art show chairman John Renowden said.
“The comments from our judge, artists and the public in attendance certainly endorsed these views”.
Mr Renowden said the club expected to make a $40,000 profit “taking the Rotary Art Show funds to over $1 million raised over the past 44 years”.
“This is a fantastic effort from a small community service club,” he said.
“All of the Rotary funds are spent on a range of local, national and international projects with more than 60 per cent of this money being spent within the Mornington community.”
The raffle’s first prize of a $1500 “garden package” from Bunnings was won by Edith Seller; second, RM Williams clothing from Camerons Menswear Town and Country, Rick Light; third, a sail training course for two at Mornington Yacht Club, Chris Roep; and, fourth, Fit Bit Package from Officeworks, Jill Ingram.
Mr Renowden said the art show “has been well worth a visit and a resounding success socially, artistically and financially”.
