"I've chosen a lot of work that is 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."
It's a brief that has seen top class New Zealand ceramic art entered into the Portage Ceramic Awards, which were established in 2001 and carry a prize of $15,000.
One of the current finalists, Mr Barron also won merit awards for entries in 2007 and 2010.
"I am interested with aspects of the real, the tangible, the handmade, a sense of place and relationship. In this work, there is the juxtaposition of tradition against the sculptural vessel, and the evolution of pottery in ceramics within fine art media," he said of this year's entry called Altered Form with Crackle Pattern.
Andy Kingston (Kaeo) and Rebecca Shawyer (Mangonui) have both been finalists in recent years, Ms Shawyer winning the People's Choice Award in 2010 with Occupational Hazard, a quirky sculpture of Lewis Carroll's Mad Hatter.
This year's entries range from fingernail sized to multi-piece, metre-high installations and range in colour from porcelain white to eye-popping psychedelic .
The finalist works will be exhibited at The Silos, Wynyard Quarter, Auckland Viaduct from October 12 to 20, and the winners be announced at a ceremony on Friday, October 11. As well as the Premier Portage Award, two inaugural, international residencies will be announced: a one-month residency at the International Ceramic Research Centre in Guldagergaard, Denmark, and another to Medelta, Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. Up to six merit awards and a People's Choice Award will also be given this year.
Entry forms for the public to vote for this award are available at the exhibition.
The awards are administered by Lopdell House Gallery, Titirangi, Auckland, and funded by a charitable foundation.
