GALLERY NEWS
41 MAX SHOWCASE ART AWARDS
W
hen owners Lewis and Glenys Della Bosca had
to alter their plans for the Impressions Art Awards
this year, it was decided to offer a lesser event for
smaller works to be held in-store. Restricting entries to small
works was a gamble - but one that paid off.
First place winner was Nelson artist Sally Barron for her oil
on board Portrait “Violet”. Auckland artist Gavin Chai took
the runner-up prize for oil on linen portrait titled “Emmaline”.
The merit award went to local artist Tina Gardiner for untitled
oil on wood 3D piece. The prize pool divided between
the winners was valued at $2050 - a combination of cash,
vouchers, art products and subscriptions to the New Zealand
Artist Magazine.
Winner Sally Barron works mainly in oils, painting both
the figure and the landscape. She is inspired by local scenery
and stories, artists and memories from the past and future.
Sally holds a BA Honours degree In Fine and Decorative Arts,
an MA Honours degree in Interior Design and the Certificate
in Tertiary Education. Currently she is a working artist and
teaches in Nelson. She is already planning how she can spend
her $750 cash prize and Impressions Voucher on art supplies.
Runner-Up Gavin Chai, is a young emerging artist who was
born in Malaysia and migrated to New Zealand with his family
in 2011. Initially self-taught he later took painting lessons from
an established private tutor. His favourite subject is portraiture- which was reflected in his entry “Emmaline”. Gavin has
achieved a truly commendable list of award wins over the last
three years so is certainly an artist to watch.
The artwork of Tina Gardiner was an exception to all the
other pieces entered in that it was an oil painting on turned
wood. Judges commended the delicacy of the painting style
and how it made you want to touch it. Tina normally paints on
canvas, but says she’s recently started painting on wood and is
really enjoying it. She does not do a lot of planning, tending to
work instinctively and in her words “just running with it”.
Lewis Della Bosca introduced judges Emma Panting and
Graeme Stradling to the audience. Unfortunately third Judge
Geoff Noble had a prior commitment and could not attend.
Lewis commented that with their tremendously diverse
backgrounds, reaching a consensus could have been a
Sally Barron in front of her winning oil portrait ‘Violet’.