Smales Farm Art Competition

Art Competition At Smales Farm Aimed At Emerging Artists

A $35,000 competition has been launched by Smales Farm Technology Office Park to select a New Zealand artist to create a permanent sculpture or installation which depicts and celebrates the history of Smales Farm as a transport hub on the North Shore.

Artists’ concept proposals will be considered by a selection panel including North Shore mayor Andrew Williams, Smales Farm managing director Greg Smale and chair of Takapuna Community Board Martin Lawes.

The winning sculpture will occupy a prominent position adjacent to the Smales Farm Bus Station.

The judging process will be led by professional art curator Rob Garrett, whose more than 30 years experience in the visual arts includes leading Auckland City Council’s public art review, curating Britomart’s ‘Auto Garage’ public art project and curator of New Zealand Sculpture Onshore in 2008 and 2010.

The deadline for artists’ proposals to be received by the selection panel is Monday 14 June, with the winning concept announced within the month following. The project plan calls for the completed artwork to be officially unveiled during November-December 2010.

Project curator Rob Garrett says the competition is particularly aimed at providing a major opportunity for emerging artists.

“Smales Farm wants to encourage artists who have great potential, but not necessarily the opportunity up until now to have access to sufficient funding and resources to realize their creative vision,” Garrett says.

North Shore mayor Andrew Williams says Smales Farm has been at the centre of the development of transport on the North Shore – going right back to the days when the farm grazed horses used for the first coach service in the area.

“It’s great to see Smales Farm supporting the creation of a permanent work of art near the bus station which both adds to the environment as well as connecting us to the past. We’ve come a long way with transport on the North Shore. We have a long way to go I hope to see a great work of art which commemorates and expresses that journey,” Williams says.

Full details on the competition are available on the Smales Farm website. Visit www.smalesfarm.co.nz/competitions/index

ENDS

© Scoop Media