Stunning work at Dannevirke Art Society's 60th annual exhibition

Linda Manning was the winner of the Dannevirke Art Society Rosebowl with her painting entitled Always Dance. Photo / Sue Emeny

The Dannevirke Art Society's 60th annual exhibition opened on Friday with a glitz and glamour celebration.

President Joan Alding welcomed guests and artists, saying it was quite an achievement in this day and age for a group to reach a 60th anniversary.

"We have our life members to thank for that. Over the years they have worked tirelessly for the art society."

A special display of the work of life members was a feature of the exhibition and a way of honouring them.

Dannevirke Art Society life members Pat Herbert and Elinor Hughes cut the anniversary cake.

Alding said it had been an unsettling year for the art society, not knowing whether the exhibition would be held.

"So it's a big thank you to the exhibition committee who made it happen.

"We have lost a number of members through the year because of Covid-19 keeping people at home, through age, illness and members leaving the district. But in saying that, we have also welcomed some new members."

Tararua Mayor Tracey Collis, who officially opened the exhibition, said she felt it was the best exhibition yet.

"When I walked through the door, my jaw dropped at the standard of the work."

Collis thanked the life members for sharing their art with the community and for encouraging new members.

"Tararua has some absolutely outstanding artists and it has been a pleasure to watch them grow over the years.

"Congratulations to all art society members for training young artists and the enjoyment you give us."

Winners were then announced.

New member Linda Manning won the prestigious Dannevirke Art Society Rosebowl.

The theme for this year's rosebowl competition was celebration, which Manning's painting of a young girl dancing epitomised.

Manning joined the art society shortly after moving to Dannevirke from Cambridge a year ago.

She said she had always painted but not consistently.

"Life and family got in the way over the years but I have been painting consistently over the past year."

Tracy Pearson's painting Yellow Tree Peony was awarded Best in Show at the opening of the Dannevirke Art Society's 60th annual exhibition.

Tracy Pearson won the award for best in show with a stunning painting of yellow tree peonies, while Tania Roebuck won the Heather Foote award for artists with fewer than four years' experience.

Maurice Foote with the winner of the Heather Foote Trophy, awarded in honour of his mother, for artists with less than four years' experience, Tania Roebuck.

Allan Giddens won the Lindauer Supreme Cup for photography.

Results: Dannevirke Art Society Rosebowl Linda Manning 1, Judy Giddens 2; best in show, Tracy Pearson; Heather Foote Trophy, Tania Roebuck 1, Tania Emslie 2; Lindauer Supreme Cup, Allan Giddens 1, highly commended Elspeth Atkinson and Tracy Pearson; children's colouring competition, 7 to 9 years, Samantha Boblea, highly commended Karlani Hansen and Khara Paewai; 10 to 12 years, Sariyah Pohatu; 13 years, Astie Harris.

• The exhibition is open to the public from 10am until 4pm daily until Sunday. October 18.