National Ceramic Awards Appoint Acclaimed Judge

National Ceramic Awards Appoint Internationally Acclaimed Judge To Celebrate 10th Anniversary

The country’s most prestigious ceramic awards celebrate their 10th year with an internationally renowned judge, but artists must hurry to submit their works as entries close on 2 August.

Multi-award winning ceramicist, teacher, writer, reviewer and arts manager, Stephen Bowers says he is thrilled to be invited to judge the Portage Ceramic Awards as they celebrate their decade milestone.

‘While I bring an experienced and practiced eye to the role, I do not bring particular preconceptions about individual artists or their works to the judging process so selection will take place largely without any knowledge of any of the maker’s identities, reputations and histories.

‘I will attempt to understand and get a feel for each maker’s idea, journey into their aesthetics and intent and evaluate their handling and ability in the resolution of their chosen approach,’ comments Mr Bowers.

To mark the Awards’ anniversary, the prize for the Premier Award has increased by almost a third to $15,000 and a People’s Choice Award has been introduced.

In selecting this year’s finalist works, Mr Bowers says he will be looking for work that is technically impressive, aware of its antecedents, well conceived and executed, original and authentic in its voice.

‘I expect my selection of finalists will reflect the degree to which individual works rose above the rest in a way that engaged, rewarded, communicated and spoke to me. Whether it is an oblique and quietly understated work, or a more direct and deliberately strident work, will be revealed on the day.’

The selection of finalist works for the 2010 Portage Ceramic Awards will be a two-stage process. Approximately fifty works will be selected by the judge from submitted photographs or digital images. Those selected artists will be invited to send their works to Lopdell House for final selection where the judge will select the exhibiting works and award winners. Full entry details and criteria can be found at www.lopdell.org.nz

The Awards’ finalists will be announced on Thursday 30 September. The finalist works will be on exhibition at Lopdell House Gallery from Friday 8 October.

The winner of the Portage Ceramic Awards Premier Prize, People’s Choice Award and up to six Merit Awards will be announced at a ceremony in Auckland on Thursday 7 October.

Last year’s Premier winner, Jim Cooper is currently the first artist in residence at the Taipei County Yingge Ceramics Museum in Taiwan. He shared the award with Madeleine Child and Philip Jarvis, an internationally lauded duo currently working and exhibiting in Melbourne.

The Portage Licensing Trust established the Portage Ceramic Awards in 2000 as a showcase for excellence in New Zealand ceramics. It is due to the generosity of the Trust’s Charitable Foundation that the awards are the country’s best known barometer identifying our finest ceramic artists.

ENDS

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