For the 78th time a sea of colour has washed over the Aigantighe Art Gallery as it hosts the Alpine Energy Art Awards and Annual Exhibition.
Beginning last week, the event gives subscribing members of a registered New Zealand art society the opportunity to exhibit, sell and have their latest works judged in a true gallery setting.
Guest artists Marg Hamilton, Zita Waldron and Christine Lang also provided pieces for the exhibition.
Renowned Winchester artist David Woodings acted as the judge this year and said he was highly impressed with the standard of work.
‘‘After four decades as a painter, I still marvel at those who may choose to exhibit for the first time, or the 21st time, for others to judge.’’
South Canterbury Art Society president Helen Wilcock said the annual exhibition was the most important event on the society’s calendar.
‘‘We use the spring and autumn exhibitions to prepare and encourage everyone to be brave for this one.’’
An opening night was held last Friday and South Canterbury Art Society committee member Trisha Garrett said they had an amazing turnout.
‘‘One hundred and seventy people attended the opening night. It was a good crowd and they stayed a long time.
‘‘It was a very positive vibe and everyone just seemed happy.’’
There were 161 pieces on display in the exhibition ranging from oil and watercolour paintings to sculptures, pottery and mixedmedia artworks.
Aigantighe Art Gallery staff member and South Canterbury Art Society member Diana Peneamene said the exhibition was very inclusive.
‘‘We have people just starting out in the society and people who have been exhibiting for years.’’
Mrs Peneamene, an artist herself, entered two pieces in the exhibition.
The first was an oil painting of Lake Alexandrina titled Reflections and the second an acrylic work on paper titled Woman Reading.
She said that for her, creating art was a compulsion.
‘‘Some people are just visual — most artists think in pictures rather than words.
‘‘I’ve painted all my life, so I find that I can’t not.’’
She had been an art society member for about 30 years, and her favourite subject to create art about was people.
‘‘I especially like people, the shapes, the liveliness — it’s celebrating life.
‘‘That’s my thing, everybody has their own beauty.’’
She said the exhibition was great as it had something for everybody.
‘‘Everybody has their own unique style and there is so much on show. There is lots of good work to see.
‘‘Our curator Hamish spends a lot of time placing everything so that it all ties in as you look around the room.
‘‘It’s not just throw them on the wall, it’s a conscious effort of about two to three days’ working out what will go where and moving things around until they are just perfect.’’
The exhibition will wrap up on November 19 and pieces will be for sale until then.
