FINALISTS IN PRESTIGIOUS PORTAGE CERAMIC AWARDS ANNOUNCED
Breaking Waves, Rod Davies. Photo by Studio La Gonda
Showcasing the diversity and excellence of contemporary clay practices in Aotearoa, the Portage Ceramic Awards has released its thirty 2022 finalists, whose works will be publicly exhibited from 26 November 2022 – 5 March 2023 at Te Uru in Titirangi.
Entries were received from all over the country and artists are now available for interview in the lead up to the announcement of the winner on the 25th of November, at an awards night and party at Te Uru.
This year, organisers were delighted to welcome Director of The Dowse Art Museum in Lower Hutt and co-author of Crafting Aotearoa: A Cultural History of Making in New Zealand and Wider Moana Oceania - Karl Chitham (Ngā Puhi, Te Uriroroi), to judge entries. In addition to his role at The Dowse, he also brings with him the experience of being part of the selection process for the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards, The National Contemporary Art Awards, and the New Zealand Pavilion at the 2022 Venice Biennale.
“The finalists works represent an incredible diversity of approaches with overarching themes like COVID, language and climate change, to just wanting to explore the versatility of clay as a material. They are a mix of fun, surprising and in some cases really quirky, which I think will change people’s opinions about the possibilities of contemporary ceramics,” says Chitham
The awards and exhibition are hugely popular, attracting thousands of visitors over the summer months. Te Uru Director Andrew Clifford reflects that the enthusiasm from both the artists and the public confirms that the ceramic scene in Aotearoa continues to flourish.
Attracting 200 entries each year the awards draw in a wide range of talent. “Some are well-known names with long-established careers while others are just starting out, but all have the same opportunity to impress the judge with their work, to appear in the exhibition and publication, and to gain recognition from their peers,” says Clifford.
The Portage Ceramic Awards are open to all New Zealand artists both established and emerging whose work spans sculptural and domestic clay traditions as well as other associated disciplines, including photography and videography.
The 2022 Portage Ceramic Awards finalists are Stephen Aitken, Leigh Anderton-Hall, Greg Barron, Heath Bell, Maak Bow, Annette Bull, Oliver Cain, Peter Collis, Anna Crichton, Rosie Parsonson & Richard Darbyshire, Rod Davies, Peter Derksen, Mel Ford, Mandy Gargiulo, Evelyn Hodowany, Tracy Keith, Yueh Luo, Paul Maseyk, Kylie Matheson, John Parker, Richard Penn, Helen Perrett, Teresa Peters, Elena Renker, Rick Rudd, Takaaki Sakaguchi, Sylvia Sinel, Janna van Hasselt, Dorothy Waetford and Pip Woods.
The Portage Ceramic Awards receive generous funding from The Trusts Community Foundation.
ABOUT TE URU
Te Uru is a regional gallery based in scenic Titirangi, gateway to the Waitākere rain forest and en route to Auckland's famous west coast beaches. As a destination gallery, Te Uru operates from an award-winning purpose-built building in the redeveloped Lopdell Precinct. We continue to present a diverse programme of contemporary exhibitions, events and activities, complemented by exceptional architecture and spectacular views of the surrounding area. Te Uru receives core funding from the Waitākere Ranges Local Board of Auckland Council.