Harry Young's sculpture "Forbidden Skate Ramp," a miniature concrete replica of the Telstra building in Perth's CBD, won the top prize at the City of Joondalup Community Art Exhibition. The work was praised for its clever play on scale and connection to local folklore about the building's roof resembling a skate ramp. Young received $4,000 for the award. Other winners include Soyang Lee (highly commended for "My Garden"), Fred Maris (Celebrating Joondalup award for "Burns Beach"), and Pippa Rivett (student award for "Emerging"). The exhibition features over 150 artworks at Lakeside Joondalup Shopping City through June 28.
This story matters because it highlights the role of local community art exhibitions in nurturing regional artistic talent and fostering civic pride. Such events provide a platform for emerging and established artists to gain recognition and financial support, while strengthening cultural identity in suburban areas. The exhibition's longevity since 1998 underscores the sustained value of grassroots arts programming outside major metropolitan centers.