Perth's getting back at those well meaning protesting clerics who turfed painted alter pieces and sculpted saints out of the churches, four centuries ago. One decommissioned (or is it unholy?) house of worship, now known as The Church Gallery, proves an ideal venue for displaying contemplative works of art by some of this town's better known artists.

The 'Charlie Gairdner' prize is one of the visual art calendar's much anticipated events.  Systematic Crew, a mixed media work on paper depicting a group of  'break' dancers, by Arthur Russell was this year's winner.  Congratulations to one of Perth's more prestigious artists.

Chimera by Concetta Petrillo was acquired by the hospital this year and I do applaud the choice. This image of two beautiful prepubescent children is a haunting rendition of naive innocence on the verge of adolescent turbulence. The boy in the foreground returns our gaze with a look of untested bravado as another child relaxes without a care. Through an arch in the background we see a rendition of Michaelangelo's omnipotent God in a dynamic pose that counters the gentleness of the children. The whole image seems to be a result the brush caressing, not decorating, the canvas.  Excellent.

I quite liked Jo Darbyshire's diptych Derbel Yerrigan - The Swan River as it is a sophistocated and intriguing visual play with the media of red gum resin and oil and Tony Pankiw's Fluid, as it turns unlikely material into a sense of freedom and joy.  This steel and chrome construction evokes thoughts of those creatures able to experience the environments of both sea and air, at will.  I also liked  Patrizia Tonello's Alchemy for its mastery and mystery, Gary Aitken's Attractor for its vibrancy, Jill Kempson's little painting Shore of Becoming for sending me on a journey into my own dreams, and Nola Farman's Transition - although I'm not certain why it attracted me and what it communicated, I only know I'm still thinking about it.

Many of the exhibits reflect on this year's theme, 'Transitions' (a title befitting the venue!) as they convey ideas of conversion, change, or a passage of sorts, suggesting they were created for the event.  There are a few, however, that have been seen at other outings, produced for other dictates which I find annoying.  Still, the exhibition is a splendid show so if you miss it at this venue, do see it at the hospital's art gallery.