Briana Woolliams was awarded the People’s Choice Winner of The Estuary Art and Ecology Award hosted by the Uxbridge Arts and Culture at the culmination of the exhibition in the Malcolm Smith Gallery.
First place was awarded to Mo Stewart whose personal artwork will feature in Malcolm Smith Gallery in October.
Briana’s art work Te Wai o Taiki is an illustrative work bringing together poetic text and textiles. “Poetry was used as a form to consider the shifting ecologies of the estuary as a response to human urbanisation,” she says.
Briana was presented the award by Wally Rice and Marilyn Bakker of the Rice Family Partnership at Malcolm Smith Gallery.
The Estuary Art and Ecology Award brings focus to the plights and delights of the Tamaki Estuary and is now in its 13th year.
Briana also scooped a Merit award along with Toni Hartill–second prize being awarded to Roma Anderson.
The award, which was judged this year by Dr Janine Randerson is supported by Gordon Harris and The Rice Family Partnership. The award to Briana was presented in the presence of her proud father and nana from whom her creative talents have been nurtured.
Wally said, “It was good to see so many creative entries well-supported by public votes which resulted in a tight contest amongst the participants. Congratulations to Briana Woolliams.
“The Rice Family Partnership is proud to sponsor this event once again, in recognition of the importance of promoting greater public awareness about pollution, and the ecology of the Tamaki Estuary and its surrounds. I am sure that continued emphasis in this area will result in improvement of our waterways over the years to come.”
