“Free-Spirited” Art In National Exhibition
“Free-Spirited” Art In National Exhibition - Regional Winners Announced
Free-spirited, unconventional,
spontaneous and deeply personal - that’s
how the judges
of the IHC Telecom Art Awards described the 400 works
they
judged in three regional exhibitions.
The IHC
Telecom Art Awards are the major showcase of the talents of
people
with intellectual disabilities. The awards are
open to all New Zealanders
with an intellectual
disability.
The top 30 entries, selected from the regional
competitions, will be
exhibited at Chaffers Gallery in
Wellington in September. From this
line-up, the national
winners are chosen and members of the public can
place
bids to take home their favourite pieces.
The regional
winners were judged by the head of World fashion
house,
designer Denise L’Estrange-Corbet;
internationally renowned artists Dick
Frizzell and Karl
Maughan; and founding director of Wellington’s
City
Gallery Paula Savage.
The 30 regional finalists are:
Graham Adams, Christchurch
Diane Hockridge,
Kaikoura
John Lambie, Christchurch
Joanne McGimpsey,
Christchurch
Kaye McMurray, Temuka
Geoffrey Pote,
Motukea
Ania Solomon, Timaru
Sally Owen,
Christchurch
Jason Beswick, Christchurch
Jonathan
Bowler, Christchurch
Matthew Bishopp, Tauranga
Shannon
Bowden, Auckland
Melissa Donoghue, Hamilton
Melanie
Gardiner, Tokoroa
Jonothan Gill, Auckland
Joanna
Lynskey, Auckland
Vesna Tomic, Auckland
Jules Carlyon,
Auckland
Cherie Mellsopp, Hamilton
Paul Sedgwick,
Hamilton
Wendy Best, Wellington
Michael Brandt,
Harewa
Scott Carlsen, Paraparaumu
Denise Dennehy,
Wellington
Colin Korovin, Wellington
Lisa McConnochie,
Upper Hutt
Brett Udy, Waikanae
Emma Gregory, Upper
Hutt
Shaun O’Riorden, Wellington
Catherine Scully,
Carterton
The overall quality of work impressed Karl Maughan.
“There is a very high standard of work with
very little concern for
convention. The artwork comes
from a head space where Picasso was always
trying to
be.”
Denise L’Estrange-Corbet felt the works
represented art in its truest
form.
“There are no
preconceptions, these are free-spirited art forms.
The
artists don’t think about whether they can or
can’t do or create
something, they just do
it.”
Paula Savage recognised the staff who support artists with disabilities.
“The staff working with these
artists create an environment which
encourages freedom
and creativity. In a sense, the art is untaught
and
deeply personal. It’s spontaneous, and there’s a
freedom about it that is
very interesting.”
Dick Frizzell said that art is timeless.
“I’m always
surprised by the quality of the artwork. It’s a real
testament
to the consistency of talent among the artists
and the support they are
receiving.”
The works can be viewed and bids placed www.ihcartawards.co.nz
The IHC Telecom
Art Awards were established in 2004 to encourage
and
recognise creativity from New Zealanders with an
intellectual disability.
The awards to the four winners
will be presented at a function in
Wellington on
Wednesday 23 September at Chaffers Gallery in
Wellington.
First prize is $5000, second prize is $2000
and third and fourth place
winners each receive
$1000.
The IHC Telecom Art Awards are part of Telecom’s
community investment
programme. Telecom has been proud
sponsor of the Art Awards since
their
inception.
“Like Telecom, the IHC Telecom Art
Awards have communication at their
heart. Art is a
powerful medium for intellectually disabled New
Zealanders
because it provides them with the opportunity
to voice their perceptions
of the world in unique and
positive ways,” said Telecom Sponsorship
Manager Alex
Milne.
“It is fantastic to see the number of entrants
growing year by year, and I
encourage everyone to go and
see the artworks on
show.”
ENDS