Central Otago Art Awards selectors Jim Cooper, of Dunedin,
and Kathryn Mitchell, of Invercargill, sift through the
hundreds of entries. Photo by Sarah Marquet.
Selectors for the inaugural Central Otago Art Awards were
in Alexandra during the weekend to choose the finalists after
entries closed last Tuesday.
Jim Cooper, ceramicist from Dunedin, and Kathryn Mitchell,
writer, artist, tutor and programme manager at the Southern
Institute of Technology in Invercargill, were selected for
the task.
About 500 entries from all around New Zealand in a variety of
mediums were received.
"The calibre [of the entries] expresses a lot of talent -
there are some very skilled and talented people ... " Mr
Cooper said.
The judges whittled the field down to 50 entries, which will
be displayed in an exhibition in the Russell Henderson Art
Gallery, in Alexandra.
When the exhibition opens on September 8, the winners of the
$5000 Central Lakes Trust Art Excellence Award and the $2000
CO News Central Otago Artist Award would be announced,
Central Otago District Arts Trust arts co-ordinator Maxine
Williams said.
The judges are Elizabeth Caldwell, of Dunedin Public Art
Gallery, and Jim Geddes, of Eastern Southland Art Gallery.
Ms Williams said the $1000 Alexandra Community Arts Viewers
Choice award would be announced after the exhibition closed
on October 26.
Ms Williams said to vote for their favourite work, people can
go to www.centralotagoarts.com.
sarah.marquet@odt.co.nz
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