Simon Morrison-Deaker, Rachael Errington, Emma Butler, Sue Wademan and Stuart Bateman are busy packing their paintings for transport to the seventh annual national showcase. The exhibition specialises in affordable New Zealand art by living artists and aims to promote new, emerging and established artists.
Morrison-Deaker, Errington, Butler and Wademan have been allocated a "single-artist wall" dedicated solely to their work. More than 200 artists applied for 84 high-profile spots.
Morrison-Deaker, Errington and Butler are taking almost 100 examples of their paintings in total. They travel to the TSB Bank Arena on Wednesday, accompanied by Artbay Gallery owner Pauline Bianchi in support.
The show launches with a sold-out evening gala on Thursday, which will be attended by 1200 patrons. The show opens to the public from Friday to Sunday.
More than 10,000 people are expected to enjoy a visual feast of 3500 works by 424 selected artists.
Errington was also selected as one of 10 finalists for the 2010 Signature Piece Art Award, for her acrylic and oil titled Sun Sets as Autumn Turns to Winter, from her tree series. The winner receives a $5000 grant to further his or her career.
Errington was wrapping up 58 paintings from her tree series and some still life works.
"It's exciting. It's my first exhibition outside of Queenstown since I've been a New Zealand resident, so it's a real landmark for me."
Butler is taking 32 paintings from her series based on a character named Ruby and her dog, Scarlett.
"I don't know what to expect, but I'm excited to be selected for a single-artist wall."
Morrison-Deaker packed eight works from his "Small Town", "Monument" and "Pop Art Monument" series.
He will reunite with fellow Arthurs Point artist John Shewry for their second Artbay show, "Collections from the Shed", from August 27 until September 12.
