Bay Art 2024 was held at Te Waka Kura O Mohua Auditorium from Saturday 26th October to Sunday 3rd November, with the exhibitions opening and awards night held on Friday 25th October.
Organising this year's event begin mid June 2024 with the mantle being passed to GBCAC arts worker Gary Smith supported by GBCAC representative Marg Braggins, Sarah Thomas (coordinator and lead curator of the Young@Art exhibition) and Kathy Reilly (lead curator of the Bay Art exhibition). This core crew were joined by a number of volunteers during the intake, curation and judging processes, and a number of exhibiting artists volunteered to person the reception desk during the exhibition.
This year, finding funding for the event was a challenge, however with the generous support of local businesses and organisations the event was able to uphold its level of professionalism.
The following were primary focus points for this year’s Bay Art:
reconnect the exhibition to the Golden Bay community by working alongside key contributors to the event, contextualising the exhibition historically context, an open invitation local creatives to share concerns and look to the future together and acknowledging local businesses and organisations that provide support.
digitising registration and voting systems as a means of streamlining back ground systems.
continuing to develop the professionalism of the exhibition.
integrating a ‘community strengthening’ aspect to the event.
Time spent exploring historical documents provided a clear sense of the events foundations.
New additions included: workshops leading up to the event and the development of the Bay Art Special Exhibition space featuring Lorraine Polglase. The addition of this space was possible due to recent renovations and provides not only the opportunity to honour a local artist but also showcase the longitudinal aspect of an artist's creative journey (whereas the main exhibition 'captures' a cross-sectional snapshot of the community's creativity at the time of the exhibition).
This year saw 130 entries in Bay Art and 86 entries in Young@Art with this being the first year with a significant increase in the number of entries moving from the Young@Art exhibition into the youth section of Bay Art.
Bay Art 2024 was honoured to have the following judges:
Audrey Anderson (Richmond, Tasman District)
Audrey Anderson is an artist based in Nelson, New Zealand, with a BA Fine Arts (Honours) from the University of Pretoria (2006). Her work has been exhibited internationally in galleries and art fairs across South Africa, England, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Sweden, Germany, and New Zealand. She was awarded the prestigious SA Taxi Foundation Art Award in 2016 and received a Merit Award at the 2023 Tasman National Art Awards for her work *See the City for the Forest*. Audrey completed a residency at the Arteles Creative Centre in Finland in 2017 and returned as an alumni artist in 2022. Her career spans over 20 years, with works held in major collections, including Nandos (UK, Australia, South Africa), Hollard, Spier, SA Taxi, The South African National Art Bank, RMB, FNB Bank, Reuters New York, and Forbes Africa.
Neville Parker
(Motueka, Tasman District)
Neville Parker has been a full time artist and gallery owner for the last 30 years. Over that time Neville has made a business for himself from building and selling art galleries. He has owned over eight different types of gallery in Auckland, Blenheim, Nelson and Tasman. His present project is called Church House Gallery and is located in the CBD of Motueka.
As a maker, Neville identifies most as a sculptor and as an illustrator. His work often has elements of humor in it, but can also explore many deep, social and political concepts.
As the host and presenter of The Artwonk Podcast Neville explores and informs his listeners on all sorts of elements within an art marketing and art business practice. A self-confessed “Wonk” or person who likes detail Neville is fascinated by the different ways that humans create and consume art and he is convinced he is one of the luckiest people alive to be able to spend his life playing with so many cool and talented people.
Honor Stephenson
(Nelson, Nelson Region)
Honor Stephenson is a multi-disciplinary visual artist and an art educator who currently teaches at NMIT. Her research-led practice is situated in biophilic art notably therapeutic landscapes (grief, solace, bereavement and connection to place). Her art evocates a reverence for light and is inspired by and empowers a sense of awe and communion with nature. Honor works in-situ and in studio with acrylics and inks, on canvas, linen and gauze.
The judges had the unenviable task of awarding recognition within a limited number of categories to the diversity and quality of art work submitted for judging. Based on submitted works the exhibition core crew added both miniature 3D and installations categories. This years winners are:
Supreme Winner
Anita Peters | Bird Woman
2D
Professional – Hesta Mcready | Autumn Fall
General – Reto Balzar | Woman with veil
Youth – Jesse Whittaker | Bug
3D
Professional – Sarah Thomas | Fools rush in
General – Anita Peters | Bird Woman
Youth – Ely Cottle | Dragon of the lunar eclipse
Installation
Nicola Basham, Hiromi Ledger, Jude Zwanikken | Dream Canoe Bier
Miniature 3D
Professional – Kathy Reilly | Small book of inner images
General – Oliver Silverfinch | Attraction
Youth – Stevie Caveye | Golf Frog
Commended
Eddie Monotone | Its not a political statement, its a desk
Kirsty Richmond | I Kea
Steven Wilkinson | Stars above/Don’t be koi
Amalie Harris-Mcready | Pod
One of the most significant awards for the event is the People's Choice Award, this year sponsored by Sarah Brown and the ITM Takaka crew. This award celebrates the artist(s) who touch the heart of their community - no more so than this year's winner:
People’s Choice Award
Recognition
Olivia Thomas | Bite Me
Hesta Mcready | Autumn Fall
Paul Lumsden | Time to play hookie
Katie Lavers | Milnthorpe Madness
Runner up
Kirsty Richmond | I Kea
Winner
Ute Schroder | Humanity
Ute Schroder | Humanity
"On January 29, 6-year old Hind Rajab from Gaza was travelling in a car with her family trying to escape the invading forces. Their car came under fire and all but Hind were killed. For three hours, amongst the bodies of her dead relatives, Hind talked to emergency services, pleading for help.
She was killed while on the phone, along with the two paramedics who were sent to rescue her.
The car was riddled with 335 bullet holes.
All children are our children."
Golden Bay Community Arts Council would like to acknowledge:
the following local businesses and organisations for their support:
Significant Sponsors:
ITM Takaka | Mussel Inn | Health Post | Matuku Funerals | NBS Bank | Trash Palace
Major Sponsors:
Fresh Choice | Farewell Spit Tours | Dangerous Kitchen | Solly’s Transport.
Key Sponsors:
Unlimited Print, MONZA Gallery, Paper | Scissors | Rock, Pohutukawa Gallery, Zentec, DeLish, Golden Bay Air, Hammer Hardware, Youth Habitat.
Supporters:
Ratanui Lodge, Nikau Cafe and Bar, Tui Balm, Mariposa, Bacca Bakery, Living Light Candles, Kokalito Fine Foods, Ellis Creek Farm, Sustainable Living Centre, Wholemeal Cafe, Brian Cooper.
the following funding agencies for their support:
TDC Creative Communities Scheme | TDC Golden Bay Community Board
Finally, the last words need to be for our community's creatives and those who nurture the development of creativity, young or old, experienced or just stepping into the public arena. We honour and celebrate your bravery, talent and passion!
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