Art is in good hands

TALENTED YOUTH: People's Choice winner Jovanna Penn-Reina (left), organiser Tamara Stratton, winners Eloise Young (WHS student), Mikayla Baldwin (WHS student), Xanthe Cohen and Aranga Molijn (WHS student) at the awards night last week.

In Our Hands, the recent competition showcasing visual art created by youth, attracted some impressive entries.

Young people took part in workshops run by local artists from silk-printing to clay-modelling to further develop their skills before submitting their work for inclusion in the exhibition at Arts @ Centre.

The work was judged by Whanganui artist and teacher Maria Fredette who said it was a hard but enjoyable task to select the best work from an impressive range of submissions.

The winners were all WHS students: Mahina Barritt painting prize and Aranga Molijn drawing prize in the 12-14 age group, Eloise Young painting prize and Mikayla Baldwin for the top drawing in the 15-18 age group.

Photography was judged across both age groups with Ilan Ben-Ezra (WHS student) being the winner,

and the prize for best description was awarded to Xanthe Cohen.

Jovanna Penn-Reina was awarded the People's Choice prize for her photograph of the Durie Hill Tower.

The event, organised by the Whanganui District Youth Committee, began last year and will be an annual event aimed at the youth of Whanganui with a different theme each year.

By Liz Wylie
Wanganui Chronicle 9/9/17