Hawke's Bay sculptors selected as finalists for major art award

The Hawke's Bay Molly Morpeth Canaday Awards 3D finalists (from right) Roger Kelly, Chelsea Fisher (with daughter Isobella), Raewyn Paterson, Susan Mabin and Chika Lindsay

Recently a group of Hawke's Bay artists and designers were delighted to be selected as finalists for the Whakatane-based Molly Morpeth Canaday Award 3D.

The finalists, Annette Bull, Vanessa Arthur, Roger Kelly/Chelsea Fisher, Raewyn Paterson, Susan Mabin and Chika Lindsay drove to Whakatane to attend the award announcement ceremony and described the great diversity of 3D art from conceptual installations to beautifully crafted sculptures selected.

The Molly Morpeth Canaday Award 3D is a national award; the major award is $10,000 and its mission is "to nurture and promote three-dimensional arts nationally, providing a valuable and professional platform for artists working in the areas of sculpture, installation and contemporary craft". It is presented by Arts Whakatāne and Whakatāne Museum and Arts.

From the artists' perspective it has been an exciting opportunity to to be part of an exciting curated show, to meet all those other artists and to see how their work sits alongside other sculptural practices from throughout New Zealand.

For Lindsay just getting her delicate artworks to the venue was quite stressful.

She says, "I was very worried about the transportation of my work in the heat, and was very nervous to see how my sculptures were doing surrounded by other great works. [However,] I was pleased to see that they were hanging in the corner of the large room casting shadow, which added more depth to my work."

"To be selected to show a piece of my work in this exhibition has been a positive experience," says Mabin.

"And to be shown with other sculptors' work from all over New Zealand provides an opportunity to see your work in a new light and context."