Objective Art Awards 2012 - call for entries

Artists wanting a chance to win a share of $9,500 in prize money are invited to enter the Objective Art Awards 2012.

Now in its sixth year, the awards are the premier recognition of object art in New Zealand and see artists compete for the top prize within their chosen media (i.e. ceramics, glass, jewellery, wood, metalwork, craft or textiles).

A number of works will be selected to take part in an exhibition at the Mangere Arts Centre– Nga Tohu o Uenuku, which will be included in 2012’s Southside Arts Festival Programme.

This year’s guest judge is Areta Wilkinson and the exhibition will be curated by James Pinker, the centre’s Visual Arts Manager.

The theme for 2012s awards is “If I am to dream I dream alone. If we all dream together then we shall achieve.” – Princess Te Puea Herangi.

Entry forms are now available from Auckland South Arts Centres or can be downloaded from www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/events.

Photographic entries are due by 10 September 2012. Awards announced Friday 12 October, 6pm.

Exhibition: Saturday 13 October – Sunday 11 November

Venue: Mangere Arts Centre – Nga Tohu o Uenuku, Corner Bader Drive and Orly Ave, Mangere Town Centre, Auckland. Phone 09 262 5789 or email objectiveartawards@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

-ENDS-

Editors Notes

The OBJECTive Art Awards and exhibition look to encourage artists to work with their chosen media and enter both practical and decorative works into the nationwide competition – with winners awarded $9,500 worth of prize money.

Previous winners include, Raewyn Walsh for her work Vessel 2011 and in 2010 Chris Mules for Compound Structure made of gold card. Both won the premier award and a $5,000 cash prize.

Judge’s Profile

The artwork of Areta Wilkinson (Kai Tahu) sits between customary or traditional Maori adornment still produced in the present, and the histories and practices of NZ contemporary jewellery.

Areta Wilkinson is based in North Canterbury, currently pursuing a PhD in Fine Arts though Massey University Te Putahi-a-Toi School of Maori Studies. Wilkinson has been a lecturer in jeweller at Unitec from 1995-2008 and her work is seen in national public galleries and collections such as the 3rd Auckland Triennial, City Gallery Wellington, Auckland Museum, Dowse Art Museum and Te Papa Tongarewa.