Floral glass work's the clear winner
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Bay Chronicle
Kerikeri artist Sue Hawker has won the prestigious Ranamok Glass Prize 2010, Australasia's biggest prize for glass art – making her the third New Zealand winner of the prize in the last four years.
The AU$15,000 prize was awarded in front of an audience of several hundred people in Canberra last week.
Sue's pate de verre piece called Too Much Is Never Enough was described by judge and international glass art expert Tina Oldknow as "a truly magnificent work".
Ms Oldknow said the artist had used pate de verre in a way that had never been done.
Ms Oldknow described it as "very Andy Warhol" – a recession blues-busting work.
"There is too much doom and gloom. It's important to keep positive and the piece is deliberately bold, large and colourful," Sue says.
Pate de verre is an exacting technique requiring meticulous work. It is often used to create fragile pieces.
Sue's piece, however, represents quite a departure from the usual pate de verre creations.
"Its solid and substantial and pushes the boundaries of the technique – but this is exactly what our tutor challenged us to do when I was a student."
Winning the prize has led to opportunities for the former NorthTec applied arts student. Sue has been offered two exhibitions in Sydney and a chance of showing her work in London.
Sue continues to have a connection with NorthTec as a visiting artist and mentor at its Kerikeri campus where she is part of a thriving group of artists who are gaining national and international recognition.
"Winning the Ranamok Glass Prize is a huge boost, especially given the judges' comment that the piece would stand up anywhere in the world," she says.
"It shows that we can foot it with anyone."
Sue and NorthTec graduate and Kerikeri artist Lee Brogan have been selected as finalists for the annual Wallace Art Awards.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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