Hawkes Bay artist Ricks Terstappen has won the top prize in the year’s Fieldays No.8 Wire National Art Award for his artwork “Connectivity”, announced at last night’s awards ceremony.
Guest judge and sculptor Hannah Kidd says the work is a powerful metaphor for rural communities.
“Often neighbours can be quite some physical distance apart but connected in ways that support each other. Therefore, it’s these connection points that give the structure its dynamic strength, she says.
It was amazing to see these sculptures in person in the gallery, and each of the artworks spoke to me. It was a hard decision to choose just three winners from the finalists. Congratulations to you all.”
Second prize was awarded to Jeff Thomson and Bev Goodwin for their piece “Cyclonic” and third place went to John McKenzie for “641E9372”.
This annual competition, hosted by Waikato Museum and supported by the New Zealand National Fieldays Society (NZNFS) now in its 26th year sees artists challenged to transform the iconic Kiwi farming product, No.8 wire, into art and compete for a share of nearly $10,000 in prizes.
Since its inception in 1997, this annual open call for artists and creatives from across Aotearoa has provided a platform for reinventing an everyday farming product into art. The Awards also play a crucial role in fostering a stronger connection between urban and rural communities.
Second prize was awarded to Jeff Thomson and Bev Goodwin for their piece “Cyclonic” and third place went to John McKenzie for “641E9372”.
The finalists’ artworks will be on display until Sunday 2 July at ArtsPost, located at 120 Victoria Street, Hamilton Kirikiriroa. Entry to the exhibition is free, and all works are available for purchase.
Judge and sculptor Hannah Kidd will be giving a floor talk in the gallery at 10.30am on Friday, 26 May, sharing her insights about the prize-winning artworks.