It is nice to be in the awards again, she says, and to share it with Bruce, who she looks upon as a mentor and who she has worked with at EIT.
The nurse turned artist began working with clay 11 years ago and went on to complete a Diploma in Ceramic Design through Otago Polytechnic.
She now works from her home studio and helps run Up Muddy Creek gallery with her husband, painter and printmaker Natham Crossan.
Bruce's piece is a follow on from a series begun five years ago, looking at political processes and manipulations.
This particular piece grew from thinking about the impact of digital technology and how it is almost racing ahead too fast for people to keep up with.
Since finishing her own studies at EIT in 1993 Bruce has divided her time between part-time tutoring there and her own practice.
This year's judge is Amy Gogharty, a researcher, writer and artist based in Vancouver, Canada.
She commented that she looked for works that went beyond what you might expect from a studio or gallery, and chose a lot of work that was quirky - strange forms, odd colour, playful rather than literally meaningful.
"I also was attracted to functional work that appeared to comment in some way about its status as functional work - in how it was arranged or displayed.
"In the sculptural work, I looked for a level of sophistication in the perceived meaning and the realisation as form."
Gogharty will also be awarding up to six merit awards, and visitors to the exhibition can vote for the People's Choice Award.
In addition to the premiere award, two inaugural residencies will be announced; a month long residency at the International Ceramic Research Centre in Guldagergaard, Denmark, and another at Medalta, Medicine Hat in Alberta, Canada.
The awards were established in 2001 and are administered by Lopdell House Gallery and funded by The Trusts Community Foundation.
