Hamish Webster and Thomas Cruz are seeding artists of the Wanganui National 2009 Amalgamated Tech Art Exhibition and Award, and will be hot flavours during festival fortnight taking over Wanganui in September.
The exhibition kicks off the celebrations of fine arts and culture in the city at its opening function on Thursday September 17 at 5pm.
Both artists have taken the opportunity to show in other arts and cultural events in the city held during the Wanganui National. Hamish is in the second year of study for a Diploma in Glass Design and Production and as a participant in the Wanganui Festival of Glass he will have works displayed in Visique Goldsbury Optometrists on Victoria Avenue.
Hasmish is an extremely competent hot-glass blower, and training in other disciplines such as painting and sculpture gives him good steed in his colour and design applications, as well as alternative outlets for his creativity. In glass his main works are vases and perfume bottles that are very popular with collectors.
For the Wanganui National he will show a peice titled Chop Bowl, a graal of bright colour and dark accents, cold worked to open up the vessel and allow the viewer to see the interplay of colour and light that is the essence of glass.
Thomas Cruz will have works in a fundraising art sale held at the Wanganui Riverside Market on Saturday September 19. The art sale is raising funds for a Quay School of the Arts student exhibition at the end of the year, and he has several works on offer.
Thomas is a third year student in a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and is undergoing a painting major. He has acquired a distinctive style of high key colours and subjects of animals and people, treated in a way that is invigorating and refreshing.
His bright paintings are complemented by his choice of supports. In a recent body of work the subjects unfold and reveal themselves around and inside furniture chests and cabinets. By allowing us to possess the beauty of his paintings and store them within our private spaces he has induced in the viewer the most personal and intimate connection with the work.
For the Wanganui National he is presenting Earthly Delights, a tiled peice made in pen and watercolour on paper. This demonstrates a distinctive approach to colour and his recent motifs of animals.
The exhibition will have all works for sale and a cash award will be given to the artist with the Best in Show as judged by a selection panel.
The exhibition is held at the Wanganui Community Arts Centre from Thursday 17th September until Sunday 27th September.
The Wanganui National Art Exhibition and Award is presented by Optiv101 Fine Arts and Multimedia Studios
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