Nelson designer wins top wearable art award

A Nelson designer whose inspiration for her entry was the stifling hold of depressive thought won the top prize at the 2003 Montana World of Wearable Art (WOW) Awards in Nelson tonight.

Greta Tapper's design was a garment of herringbone canvas, interfacing, leather and plastic featuring a large book, with the writer's hands chained, and the speaker's mouth bound.

Ms Tapper graduated from Nelson-Marlborough Institute of Technology with a diploma in fashion and textiles in 1999. She is currently completing NMIT's diploma in costume design and has a dream of working in production design.

As the Supreme WOW winner Tapper takes home a cash prize of $10,000 plus an international travel prize of the same value, and a trophy valued at $2000. As the avant garde section winner, she also gets $2000.

Another Nelson designer, Letty MacPhedran, won the inaugural Creative New Zealand Artistic Excellence Award with her creation Yoi Yasa. Previous winners of the Supreme WOW Award and previous judges were invited to enter this award, which had "reinterpreting the kimono" as its theme this year.

Ms MacPhedran was a Supreme WOW Award winner in 1993 and a judge in 1998.

Around 150 creations were being displayed in a spectacular show in Nelson tonight, attended by Prime Minister Helen Clark and various international dignitaries.

Last year, the WOW complex in Nelson attracted 56,000 visitors through its doors. And every year, more than 15,000 New Zealanders, international visitors and media flock to Nelson to attend the awards.

Full award results:-

Montana Supreme World of WearableArt Award of $10,000, plus an American Express $10,000 international travel prize and a Hoglund art glass trophy, winner: Binding Thoughts, designed by Greta Tapper of Nelson. Latitude Nelson Highly Commended Award worth $2500: Oracle, designed by Cathy Harris of Wellington.

Wellington MainPower Creative Excellence Award, with a total prize pool of $3000, winner: Feral, designed by Jan Kerr of Waikanae Beach. Highly commended: La Topiarina, designed by Tracey Smith of Auckland.

Tertiary Student Design Award sponsored by Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology , with a total prize pool of $3000, winner: Reaching Out, designed by Nadine Jaggi of Upper Hutt. Highly commended: Hine-Manu The Bird Woman, designed by Rosie Horsley of Coromandel.

The Bernina Sewing Centre First Time Entrant Award, a Bernina sewing machine, winner: Celeste, designed by Felicity Hardy and Lynn Johnston of Australia.

Wales & Mackinlay Silk Award, with a total prize pool of $3000, winner: Colubra of Vita -- The Snake of Life, designed by Rodney Leong of Auckland. Highly commended: When Mere met Mary, designed by Kirstie Le Quesne and Chris Tait of Christchurch.

The Creative New Zealand Artistic Excellence Award, with a total prize pool of $9500, winner: Yoi Yasa designed by Letty MacPhedran of Nelson. Highly commended: Blue Lagoon, designed by Susan Holmes of Auckland.

The Bowater Toyota Children's Section, with a total prize pool of $3500, winner: Paper Dolls, designed by Lindsey Kirk of Kaukapakapa. Highly commended: Here Comes the Circus, designed by Amy Dicks-Johnston of Dunedin. Commended: Bee Stings, designed by Tanya Marriott of Wellington.

The American Express Open Section, with a total prize pool of $3500, winner: Tiers of Piece, designed by Susan Williamson of Nelson. Highly commended: Celeste, designed by Felicity Hardy and Lynn Johnston of Australia. Commended: Butterfly Tree, designed by Susan Cederman of Motueka.

The Nelson City Council Red Section, with a total prize pool of $3500, winner: Colubra of Vita, designed by Rodney Leong of Auckland. Highly commended: Princess Whero -- Guardian of the Endangered, designed by Wilma van Hellemond of Christchurch. Commended: Why do We Women Have it? designed by Josephine Jowett of Lower Hutt.

The Air New Zealand Oceania Section -- The Symbols and Colours of the Pacific, with a total prize pool of $3500, winner: Oracle, designed by Cathy Harris of Wellington. Highly commended: When Mere met Mary designed by Kirstie Le Quesne and Chris Tait of Christchurch. Commended: Hine-Manu -- The Bird Woman, designed by Rosie Horsley of Coromandel.

The Scenic Circle Hotels Bizarre Bra Section, with a total prize pool of $3500, winner: Childish Lips of Gossip, designed by Sabine Bender of Nelson. Highly commended: A Nice Pair of Howlers, designed by Paul and Cassandra Bowe of Nelson. Commended: Modesty Blaise Rip Zip and Bust, designed by Sharon Flanagan of Wellington.

The Tourism New Zealand Avant Garde Section, with a total prize pool of $3500, winner: Binding Thoughts, designed by Greta Tapper of Nelson. Highly commended: Rhoda MacIntyre, designed by Judie Lane of New Plymouth. Commended: Peacock, designed by Vorachai Tongon of Thailand.

The Port Nelson Illumination Illusion Section, with a total prize pool of $3500, winner: Shell Shocked, designed by Mary Turner of Nelson. Highly commended: Luna Pupa, designed by Yolanda Bartram.

- NZPA