On view: 9 October to 28 November 2004

Alan Jones wins the 2004
Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship

7 October 2004: It was announced at the Brett Whiteley Studio in Sydney's Surry Hills, that Alan Jones, from East Brunswick, Victoria, is the winner of the 2004 Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship with his work Figure #II, 2004, oil on linen.

Twenty-seven-year-old Alan Jones studied at the National Art School, Sydney. Alan has participated in several group and solo exhibitions and his work was included in the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship finalists’ exhibitions of 2001 and 2002. He supports his art practice by playing AFL and professionally stretching canvases.

Commenting on the award, Alan said: “Paris is such a visually exciting and beautiful city. The Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship will afford me the time to focus wholly on looking at the art in Paris, gathering and developing new ideas as well as getting my hands dirty. Knowing this leaves me feeling very privileged.”

Earlier this year, Mrs. Beryl Whiteley was awarded an OAM for the creation and endowment of the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship. The inspiration for this annual scholarship was the profound effect of international travel and study experienced by her son, Brett Whiteley, as a result of winning the Italian Travelling Art Scholarship at the age of 20.

The Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship is open to Australian artists aged between 20 and 30 years. The recipient is awarded $25,000 and a 3-month residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, which is administered by the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

The judges for the 2004 Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship are artist Kevin Connor, Art Gallery of New South Wales Director, Edmund Capon and Barry Pearce, the Gallery’s Head Curator of Australian Art. 136 entries were received from around Australia, of which 23 are included the finalists’ exhibition.

Kevin Connor comments on Alan’s work: "It has a great sense of design and demonstrates great consistency and depth of talent. I believe he would benefit greatly from a period in Paris where he should spend his time drawing, drinking coffee and soaking up all the art and atmosphere he possibly can. …. It is a dynamic painting … and the deciding factor was the energy of his originality."

Finalists’ paintings will be exhibited at the Brett Whiteley Studio from Saturday 9 October to Sunday 28 November 2004.

The Hon. (Bob) Robert John CARR, MP, Mrs. Beryl Whiteley
& Alan Jones.