Henderson resident Sarah Boyle's clay creation has earned her a finalist place in the country's most prestigious ceramic competition - the 2012 Portage Ceramic Awards.
She says of her finalist work "Remembered and Forgotten Summers": "Life doesn't always bring what is expected and not all summers memories are filled with sunshine. My very close encounters with wetas who hide in secret places express in these ceramic pieces, the sweet and sour of living."
Ms Boyle is one of six West Auckland residents who are finalists in the awards. Graham Ambrose (Waitakere), Fiona Henderson (Glen Eden), Corinna Hoseason (Laingholm), Judy Newton (Titirangi), Sang Sool Shim & Keum Sun Lee(Waitakere) will also compete for the coveted Premier Portage Ceramic Award which carries a prize of $15,000.
From other parts of Auckland Kingsland resident Tessa Laird's clay creation 'Alphabets' (pictured below) is also a finalist, along with Brendan Adams (Pt Chevalier), Chuck Joseph (Westmere), Vonney Ball (Grey Lynn), Kate McLean (Grey Lynn), Nadine Spalter (Ellerslie), Peter and Judy Collis (Birkenhead), Charlie Seakins (Northcote Point), and Helen Yau (Howick).