Congratulations to Rob McKenna who has won the Federal Group Award for his solar plate etching, ' To the ghosts of 30 million trees'. This image was inspired by HIP's visit to the old wood chip mill at Spring Bay, Triabunna, and references the estimated number of (old growth) trees put through the mill during its years of operation from 1972 to 2011.
The judges commented that small works are often overlooked, but all three were individually drawn to it and kept coming back to it. Frances Butler, senior judge, said: '... It is graphically eloquent; it is simple, expansive, conceptually and intellectually challenging and has all the qualities of great German Expressionism ...'