Young artists celebrate success

Young artists celebrate success

UCOL Quay School of the Arts alumnus Ben Pearce has taken first place in the inaugural National Youth Art Awards.

Ben’s work Great Grandfather Clock was constructed in walnut, rata and puriri. It presents “a window into the idea about the connections that we make and construct around un-met ancestors.”

Ben completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Whanganui UCOL in 2003, majoring in sculpture.

Third year Whanganui UCOL Bachelor of Fine Arts student Amelia Hitchcock, was the winner of the runner up prize “best 2D art work”. Amelia’s piece entitled ONE BAD APPLE was purchased by an art enthusiast from Hamilton on the opening night of the awards exhibition.

Ben and Amelia’s work was selected from 42 finalists who produced a range of paintings, prints, photographs, sculptures and installations in media ranging from paints and canvas to glass and packaging material.
The National Youth Art Awards were open to all New Zealand visual artists aged 15-27 years and was organised by the Waikato Society of the Arts, with a view to encouraging young artists to keep developing their skills.

Prizes include $2000 cash for first place and prizes worth $300 each for best 2D, best 3D and best use of repurposed materials.

It is Amelia’s second major art award success recently. Her artwork “New Zealand Pure” gained top honours in the Waiora - Arteries of Aotearoa Art.

Instigated by Intersect, a nationwide network of young leaders in sustainability, the art competition aimed to explore ideas around water and cultural diversity and was open to young artists between 18 – 25 years.

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