Winner Announced $10,000 Toyota Artist Travel Award

Artist Damon Kowarsky of Prahran was announced the winner of the Toyota Community Spirit Artist Travel Award at the launch of Cryptozoology, the indoor-outdoor sculpture exhibition at the Toyota Community Spirit Gallery in Port Melbourne.

Above: Michelle Hamer, winner of the $2000 Encouragement Award with MC Kim Watkins and the winner of the $10,000 Toyota Community Spirit Artist Travel Award 2008, Damon Kowarsky. Background: Veil by Louise Lavarack

As the winner, Damon will receive $10,000 from Toyota to travel to a destination of his choice with the aim of enhancing and furthering his artistic career.  His application and artwork was selected from more than 30 applications.

Damon will be making the most of his winnings, travelling to Spain and Egypt to undertake artistic residencies, New Zealand to exhibit at the Solander Works on Paper Gallery in Wellington, and exploring Singapore, New York and San Francisco.

Damon’s primary practice is in print making based on his sketches and drawings, which investigate the relationship between people and their urban environment.  His desire to travel is fuelled by curiosity – Damon hopes to discover the structure and importance of these relationships in other parts of the world, gain insight and perspective.

Curator for the Toyota Community Spirit Gallery, Ken Wong, said the Toyota Community Spirit Travel Award was designed to encourage artists to think about their career path. “Damon had a very clear picture of what he wanted to do.  His extensive travel plans mix learning and networking, while leaving room for inspiration – key elements for a successful artistic career,” Ken said. “International residencies will give Damon the opportunity to interact with other artists and share skills and knowledge, and his exploratory visits to New York, Singapore and San Francisco will spark inspiration.  Damon’s overseas experiences will be invaluable as he takes his career to the next level,” he said.

“The Toyota Community Spirit Travel Award stimulates artists to think about how they can develop their career.  The travel component is essential, because it encourages them to step out of their comfort zone and be inspired by new environments as well as build networks of contacts,” he said.

Finalists for the award were Leanne Mooney, Lani Pinnington, Cassandra Schultz, Vipoo Srivilasa, Merryn J Trevethan, Cyrus Wai-Kuen Tang and Michelle Hamer, who received the $2000 Encouragment Award.

The finalists for 2008 were:

Michelle Hamer
Damon Kowarsky
Leanne Mooney
Lani Pinnington
Cassandra Schultz
Vipoo Srivilasa
Merryn Trevethan
Cyrus Wai-Kuen Tang