Sticking to knitting reaps rewards
Di Tocker is thrilled to have been awarded the Swarbrick Dixon Award for excellence in Glass Sculpture with her work ‘Stick to your knitting’. Created from 12000 beads and glass rods, the work is just one of the fabulous glass works in RE: FRACTION: an outdoor glass exhibition at Waitakaruru Sculpture Park- the art place to be, on until the 14th of November.
”Refraction: outdoor glass sculpture exhibition, gives me the perfect opportunity not to stick to my knitting!” Di took the opportunity presented by the Waikato Sculpture Trust to have some fun and “present ideas that subsist within my dreams.”
Tocker collaborated on this project with her Mother. “She was not fazed when I asked her if she were able to work out “a nice knitting stitch that would look good on giant glass needles, hanging from a tree! “. Di shares a studio in Hamilton with fellow glass artist Colleen Ryan-Priest who also has work in the exhibition.
The awards were presented on Saturday evening amidst a great turnout of people and superb spring weather. Photos of all the works will be available to view shortly on the Park website www.sculpturepark.co.nz.
Hamilton law firm Swarbrick-Dixon is also committed to supporting the development of student work and offer an annual student award for excellence in glass. This year’s award went to Dale Scott, a 2nd year student from the Wanganui Glass School for his beautiful work ‘Beauty and the Beast’.
Elizabeth McClure, the judge of this year’s awards found choosing the winners a very challenging task and would have loved to split the awards! Elizabeth has been actively involved with glass both internationally and within NZ for the last 30 years. The winner’s of these awards can feel very proud to have been chosen by such an outstanding judge. In the judge’s own words, “love it, love the spider web references, love the qualities of the glass, beautifully executed and presented, love the sway in the wind, love the glistening in the sun, exactly like morning dew on a web.... and it looks like the maker really enjoyed making it."
Refraction is on 10.00am till dusk everyday until the 14th November.
REFRACTION, outdoor glass sculpture exhibition 2010
Curated by Sarah Anderson
At The Sculpture Park @ Waitakaruru Arboretum-the art place to be
Oct. 3rd – Nov. 14th