MINDSCAPE 2024 heralds the arrival of a Surrealism/Visionary/Fantasy Art Competition tailored for West Australian High School art students.
Brief History
At the close of 2017, Denise Markus, a dedicated CASM (Contemporary Australian Surrealists Movement) member and art educator, proposed the inception of a youth art competition. Her vision aligned seamlessly with the group’s annual exhibitions and the surrealist ethos they championed.
The objective was clear: to connect with the school community, foster public appreciation for Surrealism, Visionary, and Fantasy Art, and provide budding artists with a glimpse into the art world. The competition, primarily conducted online due to space constraints, culminated in the public display of works by three winners at our annual exhibitions in the year’s final quarter. Awards were ceremoniously presented during the exhibition openings.
Taking the helm, Ernst Schneider spearheaded the competition’s organization, liaising with schools and reaching out to art departments across WA Secondary Schools. Commencing in October 2018 for students in Years 10-12 (ages 14-18), subsequent editions followed in 2019 and 2021, with a hiatus in 2020 due to the pandemic. Unfortunately, the competition faced cancellation in 2022 following CASM’s dissolution.
In recent years, a handful of CASM members (Steve Dyer, Jana Vodesil, and Ernst Schneider) have joined the West Australian Society of Arts (WASA).
Approached by Ernst Schneider in 2022/2023, the WASA committee enthusiastically embraced the idea of resurrecting MINDSCAPE 2024 under the WASA banner for several compelling reasons:
- WASA’s ethos of ‘ENCOURAGE – EDUCATE – EXHIBIT’ perfectly encapsulates the value of such an event, serving as an ideal conduit to engage with the younger artistic generation in WA.
- Reflecting Nelson Mandela’s insight, “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than how it treats its children,” art activities offer profound avenues for nurturing lifelong memories, bolstering confidence, and fostering awareness.”
- Art activities offer many ways to accomplish this. What art activity can we do today with students that will create life-long memories, and expand their confidence and awareness about themselves and the world they live in?
- Embracing Henri Matisse’s sentiment, “Creativity takes courage,” the relaunch of MINDSCAPE celebrates the boundless reservoir of creativity within each individual, encouraging artistic exploration and expression.
- Leveraging the established platform laid by CASM, WASA stands poised to continue the legacy of MINDSCAPE.
In 2024, MINDSCAPE will once again showcase the surreal, visionary, and fantastical realms through a competition/exhibition format, as outlined in the Terms & Conditions of Entry. Ernst Schneider, a dedicated WASA member, will spearhead communications with schools, ensuring the seamless execution of this esteemed event.