Artist Amanda Hasselman, of Glenorchy, was awarded the title best of show and a $400 voucher for her piece, Autumn Mosaic, in the exhibition's opening and awards night, on Friday. The artwork was snapped up by a Queenstown buyer for its asking price of $580.
More than 20 artists and enthusiasts attended the launch of the third Silk Road exhibition, organised by the Queenstown Art Society, in the Cloakroom Gallery.
A total of 24 New Zealand textile artists, and three from Australia for the first time, submitted entries which had to contain at least 40% silk content.
Many techniques were represented, from quilting, knitting, weaving and collage to painted silk, dyed silk, paintings incorporating silk and embroidery.
The judge, Judith Ross, of Christchurch, an award-winning textile artist for 33 years, specialising in silk works in the past decade, said she did not take first-time judging duties lightly, as everyone who had entered had "put themselves out there".
Mrs Ross praised the "beautifully hung exhibition" and its colour "glowing on a cold autumn day". It was not an easy exhibition to judge, as there were a lot of entries worthy of awards, she said.
As such, "special mentions" were given to Blaze, by Sue Wademan, Afternoon Tea with Margaret, by Alison Naylor, both of Queenstown, and Tsunami, by Claire Smith, of Wellington.
Merit awards went to A Feast of Silk, by Peg Moorhouse, of Picton, Strata, by Anne Jolly, of Hamilton and Deni Gliddon, of Sydney. Mrs Ross said "tasteful embellishments" helped secure the most unique use of silk award and a $150 voucher for Scott Base, by Deb Donnerly, of Paraparaumu.
The "lovely working together of silk and icon" garnered the best local art award and a $200 voucher for Her Serene Empress of Rose, by Karyn Hitchman, of Queenstown.
The Silk Road exhibition runs until May 13.
