On the afternoon of Sunday August 14, sixty locals including guests of daughter Cate Pearce and her family celebrated a lifetime of painting by Helen Pammenter. Patron of the Belalie Arts Society, Malcolm Catford opened ”The Last Hurrah” exhibition of sixty paintings, 17 of which were for sale.
Malcolm said that Helen Pammenter along with himself and Clive Palmer are the only local residents still alive. “We were members of the original Jamestown Acquisitive Art Prize Committee”. This committee was formed in 1985 to acquire works of Art for the local community.
The exhibition in the Belalie Art Gallery mainly featured works provided on loan by those, who had acquired Helen’s works over many years augmented with others from the Laura Court House Gallery and the Belalie Arts Collection. Helen, celebrated her 95th in early August. She responded that Art had been one of her main passions in life.
Malcolm concluded that: “She has learnt her craft well and been on many painting camps and been a teacher to many would be artists. She has exhibited at exhibitions far and wide and won many prizes and much recognition for her paintings over a long period of time. This exhibition for our enjoyment today and the days ahead is also recognising her talent and commitment to the visual arts of the region. I wish her many happy days ahead and now have the honour and pleasure of declaring this celebratory 95th birthday exhibition open”.
The exhibition, which is open to the public, will conclude on September 3rd.
