Huntah Hawkins wins the Shine Arts Prize 2022

The artworks were submitted for the photography category and reflect how Huntah captures images from above in a way no one else can normally see.

Huntah is inspired by his natural surroundings, aerial views and the beauty of all the lines and shapes coming together. 

As the overall winner, Huntah will be awarded $2,000 prize money. He will put the prize money towards a cruise to New Zealand, where he plans to take more amazing drone pictures and enjoy a lovely holiday.

Huntah became interested in art in high school at Manilla Central School. He connected with his art teacher, Mr Galloway, over similar interests. Mr Galloway was the one who helped him to learn how to use the drone and camera equipment properly. He made art interesting and enjoyable and is always there to provide help.

For Huntah, being an artist helps him express to others how he views the world. It gives him the power of expression, freedom and control.  

"Art is important to me because I get a sense of self-accomplishment, freedom and I always feel happy when I am doing art, especially when I'm flying the drone."

"My advice to those who might like to give art a go is to just do it. It does not matter if you don't think you can or it's not good enough as long as you're having fun and enjoying doing it".

About the Shine Arts Prize

The Shine Arts Prize was developed to showcase the artistic talent of Lifetime Care and Workers Care participants and workers and to recognise the role of art in maintaining wellbeing.

Thirty-nine artists submitted entries for the categories of Visual Arts (Photography, Digital, Painting, Drawing, Sculpture/3D and Film), Music and Children under 15 years, with all artworks centred on the theme 'Where I Find Hope'. 

General Manager of Lifetime Schemes, Suzanne Lulham said the Shine Arts Prize is designed to celebrate the artistic skills of participants while providing a platform for them to engage in meaningful activity. 

"This is our second year running the Shine Arts Prize and it's great to see more entries and people who entered last time entering once again. There were fantastic entries which it made it tough for the judges to pick the winner. We're excited to host an in-person exhibition to showcase the artworks", Ms Lulham.

icare has once again partnered with Accessible Arts NSW, the peak arts and disability organisation in NSW to provide online videos to assist participants with their art practice. The winning artworks were chosen by a panel of three judges, including Luke Escombe, Michelle Teear and Serena Ovens. 

2022 winners

Winners in other categories will also receive $1,000 each in prize money:

• Caroline Graydon, Visual Arts category, 'My Husband', canvas, acrylic paints, brushes, water. 
• Wayne Williams, Music category, 'Blue Angels' song performance.
• Shaylah Sandery, Children Under 15 category, 'Fancy Dress', paint and pencil. 

2022 highly commended

Judges also noted highly commended artworks: 

• Maddison Sandery, Children Under 15, 'Sunflowers', paint and pencil.
• Tim McCormack, Music, 'Dead Man Walking', voice and acoustic guitar. 
• Alison Packwood, Visual Arts, 'Setting Sun'
• Zac Kurien, Visual Arts, 'Life is worth Living'
• Alison Gatwood, Visual Arts, 'Switch'
• Paul Figg, Visual Arts, 'My Vision's Going Haywire'.

Celebrating our artists

Winners will be awarded their prizes at a special event at the icare office in Kent St, Sydney.

The event, which falls just before International Day for People with a Disability, will be attended by participating artists and their families, icare Board, CEO and Managing Director, and the frontline staff who support Lifetime Care and Workers Care participants.