IN PICTURES: Female artists pay tribute to political pioneers

Thursday 01 June 2023

The winners and runners-up of a competition celebrating female artists of different generations, while also paying tribute to two political trailblazers, have been crowned.

Launched by the States Assembly earlier this year, the 'My Island' art competition aimed to find works to fill two rooms in the States Chamber which have recently been renamed after two of Jersey's most remarkable women: Ivy Forster and Caroline Trachy.

Caroline Trachy was the first woman to stand for election in Jersey. She stood in 1919 and in 1925 but was disallowed both times. When she was finally allowed to stand in 1928, she was unsuccessful.

Ivy Forster, Jersey's first female politician, was elected as Deputy in St. Helier in 1948, and was re-elected to the States in 1951.

Privileges and Procedures Committee Chair Constable Karen Shenton-Stone, Greffier Lisa Hart and ArtHouse Jersey's Katherine Wood judged the competition and said they were amazed at the number and variety of entries, which will be displayed in the States Assembly building and in Morier House.

Announcing the winners at an event last week, Constable Shenton-Stone used her speech to pay tribute to Caroline Trachy and Ivy Forster. 

"Inspirational, pioneering, remarkable, brave, extraordinary – even these words are insufficient. I truly am honoured to pay tribute to Caroline Trachy and Ivy Forster and give them some of the recognition they so fought so hard for."

Here's the full list of winners, runners-up and highly commended artists...

19+ Category Winner

Celina Borfiga, ‘Mont Orgueil’, Acrylic on canvas

16-18 Category Winner

Ella Sangan, ‘Corbiere Lighthouse’, paint on canvas

12-15 Category Winner

Daniela Stratford, ‘My beautiful Jersey island, and I am so lucky to call it home’, Acrylic on canvas

7-11 Category Winner

Matilda de Gouveia, ‘Jersey Seaside’, Watercolour

19+ category runners-up

Abi Overland, ‘Lillian Grandin – Jersey’s First Female Doctor’, Digital illustration

Rychèl Thérin, ‘Collection on Blue Formica’, Photography

12-15 category runners-up

Arabella Chester, ‘Flower Cow’, Watercolour and pen on canvas

Liliana Wolanski, ‘Starry Bay’, Acrylic on canvas

Highly commended works

Anita Eastwood, 'Bird's eye view – Rocco Tower'

Anita Rive, 'The Passage Grave – La Hougue Bie'

Anna Shipley, 'Seeking Spaces'

Bryony Koester, 'Eternal Monument'

Chantal Venton, 'Ode to the Boatman'

Jools Holt, 'Ouaisne towards St. Brelade'

Julie Sabin, 'Ma Roze'

Kelly Eastwood, 'Mexican Vibes at Mont Orgueil'

Stephanie Rondel, 'Portelet Bay at Low Tide'

Tracey Abernethy, 'The Reflection'