Masters Month Challenge - Joan Miro (22/12/08)

This is our last Masters Challenge for the year, look out for the next Masters Challenge winners early next year!

Every month members are given an artist to study. They have the next 4 weeks to paint/create something inspired by the work of that artist. These challenges are completely voluntary. Submissions must be original, be of any size, medium or style, must adhere to copyright laws and be completed during the 4 week time-frame.

This painting was the winner of the "JOAN MIRO" theme (22/12/08)

PEOPLE'S CHOICE and MOST CREATIVE USE OF THEME:

Victoria Anderson - "Admission"

Vegetarian Artists WOW the crowds

NZ Art Guild members, and proud vegetarians, Melissa Muirhead, Michelle Whitehouse and Sophia Elise wowed the crowds with their art at the Auckland Food and Lifestyle festival. The following article can be found in the latest issue of the magazine "Vegetarian Living" (vol.65 no.2 pg.4)

Photography Challenge - Sparkles (1/12/08)

This is our last Photography Challenge for the year, look out for the next Photography Challenge winners at the beginning of Feb 2009!

Every fortnight members are given a theme. They have the next 2 weeks to take a photograph that represents the theme. These challenges are completely voluntary. Submissions must be original and be completed during the 2 week time-frame. Members may choose to interpret the theme in any way they wish.

This photograph was the winners of the "SPARKLES" theme (1/12/08)

PEOPLE'S CHOICE and MOST CREATIVE USE OF THEME:

Jane Bold - "'Blue Christmas' by Indigo"

Opportunities for Artists

The following opportunities, exhibitions and awards are currently calling for participants. Please refer to the website or contact details in each listing for more information.

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Call for Volunteers - Community Arts Centre in Auckland

Mairangi Arts Centre on Auckland's North Shore are looking for entusiastic people to volunteer for work experience.

Work starts on Sunday 1 February 2009 and is ongoing

Please apply to
Ellie Drummond
Education/ Galleries Co-ordinator at the MaiarngiArts Centre
Telephone (09) 478 2237
email admin.mac@xtra.co.nz

applications due by Sunday 25 January 2009

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COCA Anothony Harper Contemporary Art Awards

2009 Entry forms are available now, entries close on Friday 10th April.

see http://www.coca.org.nz/ for full details, terms & conditions and entry forms

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Photography : M.I.L.K photography competition

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the original M.I.L.K. competition, M.I.L.K. Licensing, in association with Elliott Erwitt, is conducting this new competition founded on the themes of friends, families, lovers and laughter to create a fresh collection. The 150 winning images will be published in a new book entitled Fresh M.I.L.K.: Friends, Families, Lovers & Laughter in Fall 2009, and on selected licensed products. All of the featured photographers will retain copyright of their images in exchange for granting M.I.L.K. a non-exclusive license.

Both professional and gifted amateur photographers from around the world are invited to submit their images online now. Entry is free, and 150 images will be chosen as finalists. The overall winner, to be chosen by Elliott Erwitt, will receive $50,000.

This is a chance to have a photograph become part of a world-renowned collection and be published in a prestigious international book.

For a detailed overview of the M.I.L.K. project and full details of entry please visit www.milkphotos.com

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First Off the Block Exhibition
A collection of small works on canvas
Mairangi Arts Centre, North Shore

Applications due by Saturday 17 January 2009

Exhibition runs from 20th - 31st January 2009
Opening Night Preview Tuesday, 20th January 5:00 - 7:00pm

For Entry Forms and Terms & Conditions please got to www.mairangiarts.co.nz

Entry costs of $20 includes the canvas. Canvasses must be uplifted from the Mairangi Arts Centre.

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Artspaces One
A group exhibition - various artists
Mairangi Arts Centre, North Shore

Exhibition runs from 3rd - 18th February 2008
Opening Night Preview Tuesday, 3rd February 5:00 - 7:00pm

There are 10 spaces available, these will be filled on a first come first served basis. Mairangi Arts Centre have 4 Artspace Exhibitions throughout the year.

Artwork needs to be at the Centre and hung by Monday 2 February from 9am - 2pm. You are responsible for hanging your own work. Our gallery team will be available to assist you. The exhibition will close at 4pm on Wednesday 18 February and all unsold work MUST be collected between 4-5pm on 18 February.

For more details, Entry Forms and full Terms & Conditions please got to www.mairangiarts.co.nz

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Yellow Pages Group™ Art Awards
(Previously Telecom White Pages Awards)

Three finalists per region will be selected and profiled. The winner receives $2,000, first runner up $1,000 and second runner up $500.

SUBMISSION / CUT OFF DATES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Auckland, Marlborough, Gisborne, Manawatu, Wairarapa, Bay of Plenty
CLOSED

Southland, Nelson and Bays, Christchurch, Northland, Taranaki, West Coast & Buller
CURRENTLY ACCEPTING - entries close on 20th Feb 2009

Waikato, Wellington, Timaru & Oamaru, Wanganui, Otago, Hawkes Bay
Entries accepted from 30th Jan to 22 May 2009

For more informations and entry forms please go to http://www.ypgartawards.co.nz/

NZ Art Guild spreading Christmas Cheer!

NZ Art Guild Members Marimba Powley, Helen Sherrock, Jane Bold, Melissa Muirhead, Anne Lengauer, Tineswari Maruthamuthu, Chavah Kinloch, Wendy Matthews, Sharlene Schmidt, Sophia Elise, Elspeth Alix Batt, Jen Longshaw have all donated beautiful decorations to this year's annual Christmas Tree Appeal at the Bruce Mason Centre in Takapuna in Auckland.

Help show your support for this worth cause and get into the Christmas spirit, come and visit our the Bruce Mason Centres festive forest of beautifully decorated Christmas Trees! Leave a gift under their huge 12 foot tree and help those less fortunate this holiday season. Last year they collected over 1000 toys for local Children’s Charities, help them top that this year! Your donated gifts will bring some festive cheer to many children and their families this Christmas Day.

Below are some photos of the 2 NZ Art Guild trees and a few of our dedicated members who helped decorate the trees.

Tauranga National Art Awards

The first Tauranga National Art Awards was held from 10 – 16 November 2008. The organisers were proud to have the Farmer Motor Group as their major sponsors and the event was held at their new Auto Village in Hewletts Road , Tauranga. There was wonderful and enthusiastic support from the many other sponsors for each award - without them this event would never have happened.

The four selectors had an almost impossible task on their hands to select only 70 artworks from the 380 that were entered. The venue in the Audi showroom at Farmers Autovillage Extreme dictated only enough space for 70 works to allow the entire exhibition the justice they deserved. The standard was so high in every artwork entered. The final outcome was an exhibition of the highest standard with a wide variety of media and content and something for everyone. There was over 2,000 visitors to the exhibition and many praised it as one of the best they had ever been to.

On Wednesday night they had the award ceremony and auction as well as the official opening of Farmers Autovillage Extreme. Some 1,000 guests were present and 6 of the 11 award winning works sold under the hammer while the other 5 all attracted bidding which, unfortunately, fell short of the reserves. It was an exciting evening with the award winning artists joining in the spirit of the event which all helped to raise the money so desperately needed for the little children of Homes of Hope.

In the days that followed, another 8 works were sold and the organizers were proud to hand the Homes of Hope a cheque for just over $8,000. Thank you to all the artists for taking part in this event and giving so generously to the children of Homes of Hope.

Overall Comments by the Judge
Ross HemeraAssociate ProfessorSchool of Visual and Material CultureCollege of Creative ArtsMassey University , Wellington
The dominant characteristic of the exhibition is the pictorial orientation of the majority of the works. This provincial aspect tends to reaffirm the strength of the local art community. While a creative consistency is apparent there is the expected diversity of subject matter reflecting the obvious importance of interpretation and rendition for each individual artist. The pursuit of excellence in the use and execution of media and technical process seems to be an important and consistent theme throughout the exhibition. In assessing this exhibition I have looked for Aotearoa New Zealand perspectives, universal themes and local significance.

The NZ Art Guild was the proud sponsor of the Watercolour Award won by Nick Eggleston and also sponsored an annual subscription for the 10 other 11 winners

For full details on the winning artworks and to see the judges comments go to http://www.carronsass.com/

Guild Members Exhibitions - December 2008

The following are some of the amazing exhibitions being held by NZ Art Guild Members during the month of December. If you are in the area please stop by and have a look - please support New Zealand Artists!

Exhibition: I See Red !
Where: Garden Room, Letham Gallery 35 Jervois Road, Ponsonby, Auckland
When: 22nd Nov to 5 Dec 2008
Participating Guild Artist: Catherine Outwin

Seduced by her love of materiality and vibrant colour, “I see RED” explores the emotional intensity of the colour red. This is explored through the organicity of resin and modern techniques of mixed media art. Catherines latest exhibition evolved from studying colour theory at art school and explores the emotional intensity of the colour red. Catherine Outwin has been painting full time since she gained her Certificate in Visual Arts from MIT School of Visual Arts in 2004. She now lives in Takapuna with her young family where she paints professionally. She has had several solo exhibitions and numerous group exhibitions throughout New Zealand.

Exhibition: Annual Christmas Tree Appeal
Where: Bruce Mason Centre, Takapuna, Auckland
When: 1st - 30th Dec 2008
Participating Guild Artists: Marimba Powley, Helen Sherrock, Jane Bold, Melissa Muirhead, Anne Lengauer, Tineswari Maruthamuthu, Chavah Kinloch, Wendy Matthews, Sharlene Schmidt, Sophia Elise, Elspeth Alix Batt, Jen Longshaw

Get into the Christmas spirit, come and visit our the Bruce Mason Centres festive forest of beautifully decorated Christmas Trees! Leave a gift under their huge 12 foot tree and help those less fortunate this holiday season. Last year they collected over 1000 toys for local Children’s Charities, help them top that this year! Your donated gifts will bring some festive cheer to many children and their families this Christmas Day.

Exhibition: Magpie Gallery Exhibition
Where: Magpie Gallery, 1 Mt Pleasant Drive, Cape Rodney, Leigh
When: 5th - 7th Dec 2008
Participating Guild Artist: Chris Cruickshank

Three day exhibition by 6 local artists - Friday 5th December 6pm, Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th 2pm to 6pm both days