The 2021 Harcourts Challenge, held over Waitangi Weekend, broke all the records!
Over the weekend, 1009 visitors came through the doors into an Arts extravaganza to view both the Harcourts Challenge and the Big Arts Day Out exhibitions.
The Wine and Cheese preview and prizegiving is fast becoming a key event on the Whangamata social calendar. This year, 180 art lovers attended the wine and cheese event – much more than a wine and cheese event with delicious canapés provided by Whangamata Club and some very nice wines; chilled whites being the preference on a steamy hot night. Lively music was provided by The Band with Mike Frogley and mates.
Then there was the anticipation of the announcement of the prize winners……
An enthusiastic crowd was greeted by our equally enthusiastic chairperson, Graeme Smith, standing on a ladder to heighten his stature!
He acknowledged the sponsors, Harcourts Coromandel Beaches, New World Whangamata, Liquor King and Creative NZ; Paul Prouse, Harcourts Manager, said a few words, endorsing Harcourts support for the Challenge; and the mike was handed to the Judge, Stuart Shepherd, who acknowledged the difficulty in selecting winners from a very talented pool and announced the winners as follows:
Over the weekend, 1009 visitors came through the doors into an Arts extravaganza to view both the Harcourts Challenge and the Big Arts Day Out exhibitions.
The Wine and Cheese preview and prizegiving is fast becoming a key event on the Whangamata social calendar. This year, 180 art lovers attended the wine and cheese event – much more than a wine and cheese event with delicious canapés provided by Whangamata Club and some very nice wines; chilled whites being the preference on a steamy hot night. Lively music was provided by The Band with Mike Frogley and mates.
Then there was the anticipation of the announcement of the prize winners……
An enthusiastic crowd was greeted by our equally enthusiastic chairperson, Graeme Smith, standing on a ladder to heighten his stature!
He acknowledged the sponsors, Harcourts Coromandel Beaches, New World Whangamata, Liquor King and Creative NZ; Paul Prouse, Harcourts Manager, said a few words, endorsing Harcourts support for the Challenge; and the mike was handed to the Judge, Stuart Shepherd, who acknowledged the difficulty in selecting winners from a very talented pool and announced the winners as follows:
Winners
3D
2D
Youth Award
3D
- Highly commended - Daphne Inglis, Early Settler
- 3rd- Bernie Ross, Hatu Patu, Rock of Refuge
- 2nd- Kieran Taylor, Covid Choir of Aotearoa
- 1st- Nicholas Tautuhi, Orokohanganga
2D
- Highly Commended- Jackie Hobbins, Josie in the Backyard
- 3rd- Paula McNeil, Bush Garden on a Windy Day
- 2nd- Jackie Hobbins, Tangaroa’s Gift
- 1st - Lesley Campbell, Tiki
- Supreme Award- Lesley Campbell, Tiki
Youth Award
- Highly Commended- Joshua Crofskey Lee, Untitled
- 3rd Prize- Zoe Kamoueh, My Sister
- 2nd Prize Jasper Pickett, Isolation 1
- 1st Prize- Julia Wood. A Time we Wished We Had Cherished (trophy winner)
Lesley Campbell and Nicholas Tautahi receiving their awards from judge Stuart Shepherd.
The Supreme Award was won by Leslie Campbell, an Auckland artist, who spends as much time as possible in Whangamata. Her artwork entitled “Tiki” embraced the theme of the Challenge, “Aotearoa Inspired”. She won the Chris Amess trophy which was presented by two of Chris’s sons.
Nicholas Tautuhi, also beautifully reflected the theme of “Aotearoa Inspired”, with his carved wooden heru, a traditional Maori comb.
The Youth Challenge had a different theme with “In My Bubble”, nicely reflected in the winning work: “A Time we Wished We Had Cherished” by Julia Wood, who receives the specially designed Youth Trophy.
Over the weekend, just a gold coin allowed visitors entry to enjoy the art, live music and even doughnuts and coffee on Saturday from the Dandelions truck. The Big Arts Day Out exhibition looked fantastic, with artists showcasing their art displayed on the purpose-built easel and tables, many engaged in their art practise, which got much energetic interaction between artists and visitors; in the entrance foyer, Bernie Ross, as last year’s Supreme Winner, had a solo exhibition of her stunning woven harakeke pieces; and surrounded by other artists’ works, there was a touching memorial to the late Grant Simpson, incorporating two of his beautiful paintings and a eulogy.
On the Sunday afternoon, the raffle was drawn and the People’s Choice award presented to Laureen Walker for her stunning woven artwork, incorporating paua and feathers, with “Nature’s Cloak”.
The winners of the Hamper raffles were Aisne Edwards and Helen Cashen.
The Arts Collective is very appreciative of the Creative Communities grant which helped take this event to the next level.
How do you measure success? One way of course is by numbers of participants, both artists and visitors, and this year it certainly ticked that box; but also by the words that come out of people’s mouths and we heard so much praise and affirmation to convince the Arts Collective that this is all worthwhile.
But no rest….. in less than two months, there is the Arts Collective Easter Open Studios and Hubs Trail. Mark it in your diaries: April 3 and 4. It’s going to be another great event that will show again how much talent we have in our community.
Nicholas Tautuhi, also beautifully reflected the theme of “Aotearoa Inspired”, with his carved wooden heru, a traditional Maori comb.
The Youth Challenge had a different theme with “In My Bubble”, nicely reflected in the winning work: “A Time we Wished We Had Cherished” by Julia Wood, who receives the specially designed Youth Trophy.
Over the weekend, just a gold coin allowed visitors entry to enjoy the art, live music and even doughnuts and coffee on Saturday from the Dandelions truck. The Big Arts Day Out exhibition looked fantastic, with artists showcasing their art displayed on the purpose-built easel and tables, many engaged in their art practise, which got much energetic interaction between artists and visitors; in the entrance foyer, Bernie Ross, as last year’s Supreme Winner, had a solo exhibition of her stunning woven harakeke pieces; and surrounded by other artists’ works, there was a touching memorial to the late Grant Simpson, incorporating two of his beautiful paintings and a eulogy.
On the Sunday afternoon, the raffle was drawn and the People’s Choice award presented to Laureen Walker for her stunning woven artwork, incorporating paua and feathers, with “Nature’s Cloak”.
The winners of the Hamper raffles were Aisne Edwards and Helen Cashen.
The Arts Collective is very appreciative of the Creative Communities grant which helped take this event to the next level.
How do you measure success? One way of course is by numbers of participants, both artists and visitors, and this year it certainly ticked that box; but also by the words that come out of people’s mouths and we heard so much praise and affirmation to convince the Arts Collective that this is all worthwhile.
But no rest….. in less than two months, there is the Arts Collective Easter Open Studios and Hubs Trail. Mark it in your diaries: April 3 and 4. It’s going to be another great event that will show again how much talent we have in our community.
Further Note: Stuart Shepherd, the judge sent these comments:
“My criteria for assessment the use of materials / craft ( including the craft of applying paint) and; the particular “voice” or idiosyncrasy of the artist. The themes of the Challenge (“Aotearoa Inspired” and “In My Bubble”) were also a consideration in my effort to make a judgement.
Overall, I was impressed not only by level of crafts personship on show, I was impressed by the efforts of the volunteer committee and the support and enthusiasm of the wider community .
It seems that art and craft play a particular role in the Whangamata area.. the role has more to do with a connection to community and the natural environment...as opposed to a bigger centres where there is bigger institutional agendas and investment in the arts.”
“My criteria for assessment the use of materials / craft ( including the craft of applying paint) and; the particular “voice” or idiosyncrasy of the artist. The themes of the Challenge (“Aotearoa Inspired” and “In My Bubble”) were also a consideration in my effort to make a judgement.
Overall, I was impressed not only by level of crafts personship on show, I was impressed by the efforts of the volunteer committee and the support and enthusiasm of the wider community .
It seems that art and craft play a particular role in the Whangamata area.. the role has more to do with a connection to community and the natural environment...as opposed to a bigger centres where there is bigger institutional agendas and investment in the arts.”
