No.8 Wire Art Award finalists to go on display at ArtsPost

Thirteen finalists have been announced in New Zealand's most ingenious art award, the 2010 Fieldays No.8 Wire National Art Award.

Since 1997 the annual award has been challenging artists to create a sculpture from no.8 wire. Sponsored by Fieldays, the award has become renowned for the ingenious and unique entries it attracts.

Prizes for first place ($4000), second place ($1500), third place ($1000), Peoples Choice and Presidents Award will be awarded, with the winners announced on 3 June.

The finalists' works will then be exhibited at ArtPost Galleries and Shop from 4-28 June.

ArtsPost co-ordinator Marion Manson said it is exciting to once again be hosting the No.8 Wire National Art Award.

“The level of detail and ingenuity of design makes this exhibition really special, and ArtsPost are really pleased to be involved in hosting these awards each year,” she said.

Jacqui Cooper, events coordinator for NZ National Agricultural Fieldays, said she is impressed by the standard of this year’s entries.

“The high quality of this year’s entrants is inspiring. Hours of intensive labour have obviously been dedicated to create art of this calibre. The New Zealand National Fieldays Society is very proud of its association with the No.8 Wire National Art Award and the talent it showcases.”

This year the award will be judged by Karl Chitham, who has been involved in the arts sector in various roles for more than 10 years. With a Masters Degree in Sculpture from Elam School of Fine Arts, Chitham has been involved in numerous exhibitions including Handycrafts at Te Tuhi – The Mark, and Absentee at Lopdell House Gallery.

In 2001 he began curating, later becoming the inaugural programme co-ordinator at Objectspace in Auckland where he curated Her Majesty’s Pleasure (Kuinitanga) and The Faux. In 2007 he moved to the Whakatane District Museum & Gallery where he curated collection-based exhibitions, Hihita & Hoani: Missionaries in Tuhoeland and Telling Tales: Stories of Ritual and Tradition. Recent curated projects include The Multitude: NZ Contemporary Jewellery for the Christchurch Arts Festival and Far Far Away: Romance, Anxiety and the Uncertainty of Place for the Hokianga Matariki Festival.

In 2009 Chitham travelled to Venice, Italy as an attendant at the New Zealand Pavilions of the 53rd Venice Biennale.

He has been a mentor and an educator at both secondary and tertiary levels, most recently as a lecturer in the Certificate Programme at Unitec NZ. He has also been active in the arts advocacy arena as a longstanding board member of the Artists Alliance.

The full list of 2010 Fieldays No.8 Wire National Art Award finalists is:

Valynda Chadwick, Ohaupo
Jessica Turnball, Auckland
Ann Byford, Taupiri
Melanie Deacon, Auckland
Phillipus Meier, Hastings
Terry Beech, Hamilton
Jane Pouls & Dave Sole, Hamilton
Rose Petterson, Wellington
Terry Pluck, Cambridge
William Jameson, Napier
Michele Rumney, Hamilton
Murray Swan, Pukekohe
Rick Terstappen, Hastings