CHRISTOPHER MEADOWS
Talking Points - Oct - Dec 2020
West torrens art prize 2020
By Katharine Annear
Christopher Meadows, our 2020 West Torrens Art Prize winner is a resident of the Clare Valley where he paints and operates his gallery ‘Studio Meadows’.
Following a career of more than 35 years as an art teacher in South Australian schools, in both country and metropolitan areas, he expanded his arts teaching and practice in London, Paris and Osaka. He has continuously maintained his own practice as a painter, illustrator and graphic designer as well as recently turning his hand to sculpture.
Our 2020 West Torrens Art Prize theme was ‘A Sustainable Future’ and Christopher is no stranger to painting to the theme for this; his piece ‘Backyard Welcome’ having won the People’s Choice Prize for the 2019 West Torrens Art Prize.
According to Christopher the 2020 winning piece ‘Solar Reflections’ is as the title suggests; a reflective piece based on the notion of appreciating the past while looking to a sustainable future.
Christopher said “I have memories of flying in over Torrensville and seeing all the solar panels, but wanted to reflect a closer view so I chose the point of view of climbing on the roof. The single roof top figure reflecting on the past and hoping for a sustainable future.”
Art prize judge Peter Goers remarked that Christopher had chosen to paint a bungalow that’s was so indicative of the West Torrens area and brought back many memories.
City of West Torrens Mayor Michael Coxon said he was incredibly impressed with Christopher’s technique, line and perspective and appreciated the hours of work that went into such a detailed painting.
Adelaide Advertiser - July 2018
Reflecting on the Parklands
By Louise Nunn
A painting that transports Bert Flugelman's Rundle Mall sculpture The Spheres into the Parklands and depicts Flugelman contemplating his iconic work has won the $20,000 Adelaide Park Lands Art Prize.
Christopher Meadows, 58 of Clare, said he painted his oil on canvas, Spheres and Reflections, as a homage to the late artist and his influence on Adelaide's arts scene.
When the stainless steel spheres, known as the Mall's Balls, were erected in the city in 1977, Meadows was in his first year at South Australia's School of Art. " John Dowie was making sculptures but until Flugelman there were no new, progressive sculptures in Adelaide," he said. " Bert changed everything. It was a turning point in my life and the life of the city."
A former teacher, Meadows said he set the painting in the South Parklands because he took photography students from Pulteney Grammar there and knew the area. He said the figure represented Flugelman. "I'm not advocating The Spheres be moved, more that it is so good it would work anywhere, including the Parklands" he said.
The prize established in 2014, and staged every two years by Adelaide's Park Lands Preservation Association, celebrates Adelaide's position as the world's only city enclosed by parklands. Meadows' painting was selected from almost 200 entries, including entries from interstate and overseas.
The Park Lands Art Prize includes a free exhibition featuring 74 finalists' works at the Festival Theatre Foyer Gallery until August 26, and the peoples choice award, announced August 25.
Mawson Lakes Living - June 2018
Watershed Art Prize
By Nicole Aspinall
Sandwiched between two of Adelaide's busiest motorways is an extensive area of tranquility where artist Christopher Meadows drew inspiration for his award winning painting that is featured on the cover of this months magazine.
The painting was an entrant in the 2018 watershed Art competition run by the City of Salisbury to encourage awareness of water as a precious resource. It won the Mawson Lakes Living Editors Choice Award.
On presenting the award, the MLL editor Linda Vining, said "many times I have walked along the trails in the constructed wetland, past the bird hide, across the wooden bridges and deeply into native vegetation, almost losing myself in the high reeds that sway in the breeze and support a huge amount of life, from native fish to birds to frogs to insects."
"In this painting titled 'Signs of Life' Christopher has precisely captured the reed beds and the peace of the landscape while giving a hint of the busy man made world on its boundaries with a soft blurred road sign. A subdued colour palette of pinks, greys and blues in the water is reflected back into the sky which serves to take the viewer right around the painting."
"Through the eyes of the artist we see the beauty of our own backyard which is located just behind the Watershed Cafe at Mawson Lakes, sandwiched between Salisbury Highway and Port Wakefield Road."
Christopher said he drives the highway frequently and one day stopped to take a deeper look. "I found a world teeming with life, yet a place of solitude and the soothing sounds of nature. This is a sanctuary for the soul."
Plains Producer - July 2018
Sunlight Shines on Christopher's
Balco art win
By Louise Michael
It was all smiles for Clare artist Christopher Meadows, when he was announced winner of the Balco Balaklava Art Prize and associated awards at Balaklava Courthouse Gallery on Sunday taking $2000 home for his efforts.
Judge Katie Wyatt, herself a Balco Art Prize winner in 2008, chose Christopher's oil painting, titled Sunlight on a Flooded Plain, from the wonderful exhibition of 149 entries from 90 artists across various art genres.
"The piece crept up on me during judging - it's a quiet achiever that sits back and waits to engage with you," Katie said. "it's a misty, atmospheric and truly beautiful landscape executed with skill, patience and dedication." Katie said the work was presented to a very high level, and would be 'right at home in any corporate collection'.
As it is an acquisitive prize, the painting will be retained by event sponsor Balco and displayed in its Balaklava office.
Northern Weekly Messenger - May 2017
A Fresh Focus Brings Reward
By James Gratton
Christopher Meadows has always had a passion for art, but it was only when he retired from teaching that he could finally focus on it.
After 35 years of teaching art across the state, the Clare artist is now putting his lessons into practice.
“Art has always been a big part of my life” Mr. Meadows says. “Now I’m able to really put some time into it”. This concentrated effort has brought its reward. Last week, Mr. Meadows took out Salisbury Council’s annual Watershed Art Prize.
The award encourages artists to create a piece embodying the importance of water conservation and protection of the environment using different mediums. Sixty pieces from the competition will be on display at the John Harvey Gallery, 12 James St. Salisbury, from today until June 2.