An artwork featuring the Esperance ensemble for the Perth big screen

In an effort to present Hope to the State, local artists have created new works centered on the theme of welcoming change.

Dot Labuschagne has won the annual Showcase Esperance competition and will now see her winning entry shown on the big screen at Yagan Square in Perth.

The winning piece features the harbor and foreshore of Esperance, complete with the familiar red helicopter and whale tail, as well as the new swim enclosure and pontoon.

Shire Chairman Ian Mickel said he was impressed with the variety of entries this year across five categories.

“Choosing winners from the fabulous entries we received was difficult, each showed a different side of Esperance, using a range of styles and mediums,” he said.

“Dot is certainly a prolific artist. She also won in 2020 but the competition was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so it will be great to see Dot’s artwork on the big screen in Yagan Square.

Other winners include Hudson Bertola in the lower primary group, Spence Pokela in the upper primary and secondary winners Riley Butler and Hayley Fletcher, with Joshua Andahl winning the digital category.

Shire chief executive Shane Burge said the annual competition was a highlight of the calendar for the arts community and students at Espérance.

“It’s fantastic to see the artwork of our younger generation every year and see how they translate their vision for our home into images,” he said.

“This year we have everything from Cape Barren geese, dolphins, beach scenes and landscapes, to a race car sliding around the bend on the speedway and what looks like a hard-fought game of footy.

“We are so fortunate here in Esperance to have a thriving arts culture, and this competition gives our local artists the opportunity to exhibit their work statewide.”

Labuschagne’s win puts her in a state competition, with the overall winner to be announced at the 2022 WA Local Government Convention in October.