Young artist of the year

Press, 6 September 1989, Page 26

Young artist of the year

This month the people of Christchurch will have the opportunity to decide an award of $lO,OOO for the Wilkins and Davies A.S.A. Young Artist of the Yeaar.

Seven final-year painting students were selected in a nationwide search by an expert panel of judges, made up of an art critic T. J. MacNamara; a painter, Philippa Blair; and the C.S.A. Gallery director, Chris Taylor.

The standard in Christchurch was particularly high, they said. All four semi-finalists from Ham were selected for the final. Those eligible were final year students or very recent graduates. Philippa Blair was impressed by the professionalism of the Christchurch students. “The serious commitment and natural talent of the students was refreshing,” she said. ‘ “Their work reflects the

influence of strong teaching and the encouragement of the aesthetic principles of painting.” The finalists’ work will be exhibited at the C.S.A. until September 24. It will then be sent to Auckland and shown at the A.S.A. Gallery from October 7 to 24. The public votes will be counted at the end of the two exhibitions and an announcement made at a special “closing” on Thursday, October 19. A further award of $lO,OOO will be decided by the judging panel. If the judges’ decision coincides with the public vote, the winner could walk off with $20,000. The finalists are John L. Oxborough (Dunedin); Jessica Douglas (Christchurch); Shane W. Cotton (Christchurch); Odette Yates (Christchurch); Rachel Zanders (Christchurch); Paul Rayner (Wanganui) and David Shennan (Auckland).