Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Whanganui National Art Award Win to Christine Haber

Whanganui National Art Award Win to Christine Haber


Christine Haber, Whanganui, Tread Lightly on the Foreshore, photograph
2010 Whanganui National Art Award Best in Show Winner

Desiree Oosthuysen, Auckland, Tui in Kowhai Tree, mixed media
2010 Whanganui National Art Award Certificate of Merit

Leonie Sharp, Whanganui, Scoari, fabric, feathers, fibre
2010 Whanganui National Art Award Certificate of Merit

The 2010 Whanganui National Art Award was won by Whanganui photographer Christine Haber, the second year in a row a Whanganui artist has taken Best in Show. In this year’s exhibition, 20 artworks were submitted by artists from Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Wairarapa, Manawatu, Whanganui, Wellington and Otago.

Ms Haber was ectastic with her win. “To be selected the 2010 Whanganui National Art Award Winner from amongst all these other artists who entered from around New Zealand gives me such pride. These works here are all capable of winning”, she said.


Judges Marty Vreede, printmaker and printmaking lecturer at Whanganui UCOL, and Richard Aslett, award winning painter and graphic artist were impressed with the quality of light and dynamic of Ms Haber’s winning entry titled Tread Lightly on the Foreshore. The photograph of a bronze statue’s foot on a sandstone rock had a tension that is a core principle of art. Mr Vreede says, “The delicate exposure and composition were appealing to us. It’s softness of tones and lines give fluidity to a static object.”


Certificate of Merits were given to Tui in Kowhai Tree by Desiree Oosthuysen from Auckland and Scaori by Leonie Sharp from Whanganui. Mr Aslett said that Tui in Kowhai Tree blazed with blue of the sky, and the layering of paint to create the dazzle of tui plumage. “For Scaori we enjoyed the way Ms Sharp incorporated Maori and Scottish cultures of whakapapa and New Zealand history by Korowai and Tartan, pheasant feathers and flax”, he said.

The exhibition runs till October 6 at the Wanganui Community Arts Centre, 19 Taupo Quay, Wanganui. The convener of the exhibition and presenter of the award is the Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award Trust. The award competition and prize money are designed to create a national platform for visual artists in the Whanganui region, and to develop dialogue and relationships between the national arts sector and the Whanganui arts community.

Trust Secretary and spokeswoman Esther Topfer said that a national exhibition is important exposure for artists. She says “The Whanganui National Art Award is top of the line. The competition is huge and the judging is very critical. It’s taking your work to a wider audience and the artists have the chance of winning an award that will play a big part in driving forward their careers.” Ms Topfer said that the introduction of the Certificate of Merits was in response to the strengths of the exhibition as a whole and those merited works in particular.

She said that the trust is grateful for the sponsorships from the Wanganui District Creative Communities NZ, Optiv101 Fine Arts and Multimedia Studios, Powerco Wanganui Trust, Whanganui Community Foundation, and Mickey’s, in presenting the 2010 Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Whanganui National a Blue Ribbon Exhibition

The annual Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award are designed to create a national platform for visual artists in the Whanganui region, and to develop dialogue and relationships between the national arts sector and the Whanganui arts community.

Held at the Wanganui Community Arts Centre, 19 Taupo Quay in Wanganui, the opening function is on September 17 at 5pm, while the exhibition runs till October 6.

The convener, the Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award Trust, is excited about the prospects of this year’s event, comparing its small beginning last year showing artists from Wellington, the Hawkes Bay, and the Whanganui regions. For the 2010 show, the trust has been successful in generating further interest from throughout New Zealand.

The chairman of the trust, Aaron Potaka, feels that the exhibition and award is certainly on the national arts calendar, saying all indications are that “this exhibition now has a serious presence in the New Zealand contemporary arts scene in only its second year.”

“Considering the calibre of entries, the judging panel, and the real contenders for last year’s award, this exhibition is becoming an influential show of New Zealand artists and for them to be recognised, viewed, and patronised at the Whanganui National Art Exhibition”, he says.

The trust has increased the award prize to $500 for the work considered Best in Show. This year’s three judges are Marty Vreede, printmaker and printmaking lecturer at Whanganui UCOL, Richard Aslett, award winning painter and graphic artist, and a trustee of the Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award Trust the final selector.

Trustees have the purpose of promoting high quality New Zealand contemporary visual art in Wanganui, that commands attention nationally and internationally, and the award is an encouragement to artists from throughout New Zealand to enter their latest works.

The trustees are working and practicing artists, so they understand the value of recognition and exhibiting in a national show, and the influence of a Best in Show award in their careers. “This is indeed a blue ribbon event in New Zealand visual arts”, Mr Potaka says.

Mr Potaka says that the trust is grateful for the sponsorships from the Wanganui District Creative Communities NZ, Optiv101 Fine Arts and Multimedia Studios, Powerco Wanganui Trust, Whanganui Community Foundation, and Mickey’s, in presenting the 2010 Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Interest Grows in Whanganui National

Call for entries have been made nationwide for the 2010 Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award. The exhibition and prize money of $500 for the Best in Show Award are presented by the Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award Trust, with support from Optiv101 Fine Arts and Multimedia Studios, Creative Communities NZ Wanganui District, Powerco Wanganui Trust, Whanganui Community Foundation, and Mickey's as sponsors.

We appreciate their support, for the Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award Trust promotes the fine arts in New Zealand. As a leading city in training and nurturing it's artists, Wanganui takes its place as one of the movers and shakers in contemporary New Zealand art annually with this exhibition and award.

Receiving Days for entries into the 2010 Whanganui National Art Exihibtion and Award are fast approaching. Open to all artists residing and working in New Zealand, presenting work from the last 12 months.

Receiving Days
September 13 to 15, 2010,
10.30am to 4.00pm
Wanganui Community Arts Centre,
19 Taupo Quay, Wanganui

Opening Function
September 17, 2010, 5pm

Exhibition Hours
September 18 to October 6, 2010

Monday to Saturday 9am to 4.30pm, Sunday 9am to 1pm

Entry forms can be downloaded from
http://www.24bar7.com/

or contact
Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award Trust,
PO Box 7318, Wanganui 4541,
email: contact@24bar7.com
mobile: 021 296 4451.

Recent works are encouraged with the criteria of work being made in the last twelve months. By presenting the Best in Show award, decided by a selection panel, the Trust promotes and encourages a career in the arts for the winning artist with this national award.

The exhibition overall is more particularly an important venue for all of the works submitted, being a showcase of New Zealand artists. The annual Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award aims to promote New Zealand artists and New Zealand contemporary arts, and to bring new arts experiences to Wanganui. We look forward to showing an exhibition of New Zealand artists in the city.




Saturday, August 14, 2010

Latest Sponsor for Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award 2010

The Whanganui Community Foundation is the newest sponsor on board for the Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award 2010.

Thank you to our sponsors to date:
Communities NZ Wanganui District
Optiv101 Fine Arts and Multimedia Studios
Powerco Wanganui Trust
Whanganui Community Foundation
Mickey's

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Two New Sponsors for the Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award

Two new sponsors have joined others already behind the Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award.

Powerco Wanganui Trust and Mickey's join Optiv101 Fine Arts and Multimedia Studios, and Creative Communities NZ Wanganui District as the latest sponsors for this year's event.

Thank you to our sponsors.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award Gains Two Sponsors

Two sponsors have recently signed on to support the 2010 Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award. Optiv101 Fine Arts and Multimedia Studios convened the 2009 exhibition and is pleased to support this year's event. Also funding has been aquired from Wanganui District Council and Creative Communities. The Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award Trust thank them for the encouragement and assistance.

The trust is still seeking other sponsors for the event, and any enquiries and intentions for sponsorship from national and local businesses and organisations are appreciated.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Entry Forms Now Available for 2010 Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award

The inaugural Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award in 2009 was an encouraging success, viewed by 670 people over an exhibition period of two weeks, and four patrons bought works. The organisers, the Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award Trust looks forward to the 2010 event.

The organising of the second Whanganui National Art Exhibition is under way. Last years sponsor Optiv101 Fine Arts and Multimedia Studios has come on board again, and the trust has also secured funding from Creative Communities New Zealand and the Wanganui District Council.

The exhibition is scheduled for September 17 to October 6 2010, at the Wanganui Community Arts Centre.

Entry is open to all artists living and working in New Zealand, and one work will be eligible per artist for an overall $30 entry fee.

Updates on the Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award can be obtained from http://whanganuinational.blogspot.com.

Entry forms and detail are available via www.24bar7.com, thebigidea.co.nz, and eventfinder (key word whanganui national art exhibition).

Contact details
Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award Trust
PO Box 7318
Whanganui 4541
Mobile: 021 296 4451
Email: contact@24bar7.com
Web: www.24bar7.com

Sunday, February 21, 2010

New Zealand's Newest Art Award is Formalised Under Trust

New Zealand's Newest Art Award is Formalised Under Trust

The Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award has undergone a some major changes in recent months.

First, the infrastructure and operations of the exhibition is now administered by the Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award Trust.

The trust was established in January 2010. The reasoning behind this was to make the administration of the exhibition as inclusive as possible amongst arts practisioners and organisations in Whanganui and Aotearoa New Zealand, and to further cement the position of the award on the national calendar.

Secondly, a change in name takes into account a government ruling in 2009, that makes "Whanganui" a legitimate spelling.

Thirdly, the trust aims to takes the results from the 2009 Wanganui National Art Exhibition and Award, and further develop, and more importantly expand, the exhibition in terms of artist entries, audience and corporate participation, an increase in sales of high quality Aotearoa New Zealand art work, and an increase in the size of the award.

Optiv101 Fine Arts and Multimedia Studios, as convener of last years exhibition, is pleased to still support the planning and event management with the Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award Trust, and wishes the Trust future success in providing Whanganui and New Zealand artists a platform for art discourse.