Arts review entries to go on show

WHS student Sophie Wham is one of 10 artists to enter her work in the youth award category for the 2017 Belton, Smith and Associates Limited Whanganui Arts Review.
PHOTO: Bevan Conley.

ENTRIES for the 2017 Belton, Smith and Associates Limited Whanganui Arts Review closed on Thursday with about 145 entries were submitted.

Sophie Wham is one, entering her photographic work in the Dub.Dee.See Youth Award category.

The $250 award is sponsored by the Whanganui District Council Youth Committee which aims to encourage young local artists.

"My art teacher told us about the award and I decided to put my entry in," said Sophie.

The Year 12 Whanganui High School student is one of just 10 people aged from 12 to 24 to enter the category.

It is a relatively new category and Youth Committee co-chairwoman Macy Duxfield said she has been spreading the word around school art departments as well as UCOL to encourage student participation.

"I think young people in Whanganui need to be more confident in presenting their art.

There is real prestige to be gained from winning the award."

Last year's winner of the Dub.Dee.See Youth Award, James Graves, can attest to that.

Mr Graves, now living in London and about to start work at the National Gallery says he first entered the Arts Review three years ago.

"I was still studying for my Bachelor of Fine Arts at UCOL," he said. 

"It's like a 'who's who' of Whanganui artists and it was exciting to enter amongst some of our leading international artists."

Although he did not win that year, he entered his 2016 collection of 180 napkins - each one annotated with the location, date, and time of its collection.

"It was a risky move, and not at all in the same league aesthetically as the beautifully crafted works in the same show," he said.

"But it had a concept, as I was interested in the 'nowness' of objects and places, the physical act of being present, and obsessive actions."

The award has given the young artist great validation and confidence, he said.

"It gave me a real boost, and is one of the things I take with me mentally as I complete my adventure overseas."

As well as the youth category, the review carries an open award of $2000; three highly commended awards of $500 plus merit awards to the value of $150.

The 2017 entries will be on display at Sarjeant on the Quay from March 4 until May 14.