Dane Pace Judging 2011 Whanganui National

The Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Award Trust acquired a new judge for the 2011 Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Awards.

Painter Dane Pace from Auckland joins Andrea Du Chatenier, mixed media artist and arts lecturer of Whanganui and Neil Buddle, trustee and printmaker also of Whanganui. The three judges will select the Best in Show and two Certificates of Merit winners.

Though exempt from any prizes, the judges will also be exhibiting, offering the chance for visitors and submitting artists to see their work.

Trust chairman Aaron Potaka says that with the unavailability of Sheyne Tuffery as a judge due to a clashing of dates, “having Dane Pace is just as smart a move for everyone. He’s very keen to acknowledge New Zealand art at the Whanganui National”.

Mr Potaka says “the original mix of practitioners and working artists is still there amongst the judges. They are looking forward to those works that are at the forefront for them. The Best in Show and Merits selection is always in capable hands”.

The exhibition is open to artists living and working in New Zealand. Receiving days for the 2011 Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Awards are September 5 to 7, 2011 at the Wanganui Community Arts Centre.

The awards are seen as recognition of the qualities of the winning artworks, and judges exhibiting their own work create a two way relationship with the artists and audience. “Judges are under scrutiny having their credentials on show like the artists who have entered the competition”, Mr Potaka says.

Entry forms can be downloaded from www.24bar7.com.

The Opening Function and Awards Presentation will be held at the Wanganui Community Arts Centre on Friday September 9, 5pm to 8pm. The exhibition runs until October 2.

The trust thanks their sponsors to date; The Lion Foundation, Creative Communities Wanganui District, Pub Charity, Optiv101 Fine Arts and Multimedia Studios, and Mickey's Superliquor.

The 2011 Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Awards is a Real Whanganui Festival event.