Vincent Park shopping centre, in association with the Go! & Express, recently hosted an art competition, giving young, East London artists the opportunity to express themselves.
Primary school learners were invited share their interpretation of ‘Bringing GREEN to our Mall’.
This year’s winner is eight-year-old Zoë Holloway, a grade 2 pupil at Clarendon Preparatory School for Girls.
“The winner was selected by the public, who voted for their favorite entry via sms,” said Vincent Park Centre manager Joseph Parsley.
“With over 1,000 sms votes, Zoë’s entry was the clear winner.”
When asked about her inspiration for the artwork, Holloway said: “Trees are a sign of life. I wanted my tree to be beautiful and win for my school.
“I like trees because they have pretty flowers and this tree reminds me of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
Her mom, Bronwyn Holloway, added: “At the beginning of lockdown we watched the old Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and she loved the scene when the kids enter the factory and Gene Wilder ,who plays Willie Wonka, pops a round ball on a tree and gumball sweets fall all over the floor. I guess that helped inspire her.
“I am so proud of her as she worked so hard and I think she created something quite unique.”
Winning this competition has earned Holloway the first prize consisting of a R2,500 Vincent Park Gift Card, as well as a R2,500 Vincent Park Gift Card for her school, Preparatory School for Girls.
The artwork will also be interpreted by local artist Lynne Price and will be on display in Vincent Park.
This year, a second prize of a R2,500 Vincent Park gift card was selected by a panel of judges. The winner of this prize is seven-year-old Shelby Laney.
Asked about her inspiration for her artwork, Laney said: “My teacher said I could do an animal picture so I drew some of my favourites.
“When my mom told me that I won, I was so shocked I almost cried because I worked so hard on it.”
“Our judges were really impressed by the amazing creativity in this year’s competition,” says Vincent Park marketing manager Mariaan Hartwig.
“Selecting the winner was no easy task!”
This year’s panel of judges comprised of local artists Sharon Mallinson and Lynne Price, Go! & Express marketing liaison Wendy Kretschmann, Excellerate Brand Management head Of studio Elske Nel and Excellerate Brand Management creative director Celina Anderson.
Lynne Price, a local artist and owner of Chintsa-based community art initiative I Left My Heart in Africa, has been commissioned by Vincent Park shopping centre and Go! & Express to bring the winning entry in a recent art competition to life.
“Seeing this winning image, I was inspired by the choice of colour, bold line and candid imagery,” said Price.
“The vibrant circles of colour really brings an intrigue to the tree.”
When asked about the creative process involved in transferring the image onto a massive 3 metre wide canvas, Price said “My love for recycling and repurposing was the source of my inspiration for the collage. I used cut and torn boxes in all shapes and sizes.
If you look closely, it is amazing what you can find in the packaging of your tooth paste or box of tea.”
The completed artwork will be unveiled and on display in Vincent Park Shopping Centre.
