With almost 70 applicants, the Howick Youth Council’s East Auckland Visual Art Showcase kicked off with more than 135 guests attending Friday’s opening night (June 19).
The exhibition marks the first in-person event to go ahead under the youth council’s post-coronavirus work programme.
Judges Rangituhia Hollis, Fiona Amundsen and Olivia Taita deliberated over 45 showcased works and selected four prize-winners which were announced on the night.
The showcase was produced in partnership with Arts Out East, Uxbridge Arts & Culture and Te Tuhi.
For the first time, the showcase included two main categories: Themed Art as well as Open-Entry Art, with an opportunity for artists to submit art related to the theme: ‘Modern and Traditional Connection’.
Howick Local Board chair Adele White and local board members Bo Burns, John Spiller and Mike Turinsky joined the youth council for the evening. Also attending was Howick Ward Councillor Paul Young.
“The last two years were smaller events, but with a 500 per cent increase in artwork this year, we quickly learned two things.
“We have a lot more work ahead of us [because] youth are passionate about the visual arts and we need to do it justice,” says HYC team lead Cuan Pillay, whose youth council team is in charge of the project.
The winner of the prize for themed art was Zoe Purvis for her artwork ”Two Faced Tiger’. Zoe is a student at Pakuranga College.
Third place prize winner of the open-entry art category was Jenny Tran for her artwork ‘Purity Garden’. Jenny is an AUT visual arts student,
Second place prize winner of the open-entry art category was Natalie Shen for her “Morphed 2.0” sculpture piece. Natalie is a student at Saint Kentigern College.
Overall winner of the showcase was Janet Yu for her watercolour painting “Lost”. Judges described her work as ‘subtle’ but contemporary and memorable. Janet is a student at Macleans College.
