Long-time artist and community member Greg Martinvale says judging the Kiabald Art Exhibition at this year’s Kiama Show was as much about recognising community contribution as artistic merit.

Asked to judge the Kiabald category - a portrait-style section celebrating local identity - Martinvale said the experience reinforced how important clear guidelines and thoughtful judging are for community exhibitions.

“It’s always in the eye of the beholder,” he said. “But if the judging comes from someone who understands the artistic process, then entrants can feel confident the decision has been carefully considered.”

With several of his own works entered in other art categories at the show, along with a long-standing career in graphics and regular exhibitions in Kiama, Martinvale is well placed to lend his expertise to the role.

This year’s Kiabald section attracted a modest number of entries, allowing judges time to properly consider each work. Martinvale said the winning piece stood out immediately. “It was a lovely painting. We knew straight away it was the right one,” he said.

The winning artwork was by Tiffany Springett, a talented young local artist already known for painting the Kiama fire station’s popular cow sculpture and for her collaborative work in Expressive Arts with her mother, Michelle Springett, who is the subject of the portrait.

“She has a real ability to spread joy through her work,” Martinvale said.

Beyond individual works, Martinvale said judging prompted broader discussion about the future of the Kiabald category and how it defines a “subject”.

“One of the best outcomes was talking about changing the conditions,” he said. “Instead of limiting it to well-known identities, we suggested opening it up to a ‘vibrant, contributing member of the community - dead or alive’.”

He believes that shift could encourage more entries and better reflect the spirit of Kiama.  

“Some of the most important people in a community work completely behind the scenes,” he said. “Volunteers, carers, people who give their time without recognition - they deserve to be celebrated just as much as public figures.” We will know how that conversation evolves when Kiabald 2027 is announced.

Martinvale said he was struck again by the dedication of the Kiama Show’s volunteer organisers.

“They do this purely for the love of it,” he said. “You’d think they were running a major company - that’s how professional they are - but they’re volunteers, and that generosity of spirit runs through the whole show.”

Looking ahead, he hopes the Kiabald category continues to evolve and inspire artists to tell local stories in new ways.

“It’s a brilliant idea,” he said. “And if it encourages artists to look around them and say, ‘This person matters to our town’, then it’s doing exactly what it should.”

Tiffany was absolutely thrilled to receive the news, as were we. As a valued member of The Bugle team, we’re delighted to join the community in celebrating her achievement.

She also entered the Kewpie doll section with a shout out to The Bugle - as was another entry in the Kiabald with a creative take on Kiama life. 

Don’t miss the opportunity to see all the wonderful works on display at the Pavilion whilst the Kiama Show is on - we have some amazing creatives in the community.

Don’t miss the opportunity to see all the wonderful works on display at the Pavilion whilst the Kiama Show is on today and tomorrow.