Billy Apple praises local artist

JUDGES: Sarah Williams with daughter Addisyn and artist and judge Billy Apple. PICTURE / PAUL BROOKS

Next year's Artists Open Studios has a couple of new features.
Firstly, the Trail Guide has been replaced with an art-centric catalogue of participating artists and their work. To make sure art is the focus, the organisers introduced a competition to choose a work to grace the cover of the catalogue.
At a function held last Tuesday evening, from 86 entries, the 12 finalists were announced, having been judged by a local panel.
"It took us about three hours to pick our 12 finalists," says Artists Open Studios co-ordinator Sarah Williams.
The winner, however, was chosen by a formidable artistic duo, imported for the occasion - Billy Apple and Adrian Hailwood - and they chose a work by Amy Fitzgerald.
"Amy is part of a pop-up collective in Castlecliff called the Citadel Collective," says Sarah. Amy's work is a portrait of her young son, a monochrome needlepoint work called William. The subject is seated astridea toy tricycle.
"It's a great work," says Billy. "It's like a drawing and that's what I loved about it. It's a drawing done with thread. It's pretty spectacular. It's obviously from a family snapshot ... that's what's charming about it."
He says it was an easy and immediate decision when he and Adrian saw the work.
"It stood out. It's not about craft; she uses craft to do something but the fact it's a portrait of her son."
Billy also brought up the fact that Whanganui is famous for its Cemetery Circuit motorcycle races and William is on a junior level bike.
"Here is young William who is possibly aspiring to one day doing the Cemetery Circuit." The picture was conjured up with tongue planted firmly in cheek.
"I may be wrong," he says. Billy was treated to a ride around the Cemetery Circuit track with Kathy Cunningham, Wanganui Events Trust Chief Executive, at the wheel.
"I haven't much more to say, other than Amy is one hell of a craftsperson. I love the fact it's in black and white. The moment she goes into colour she's doing embroidery. It's a fine line. If she carries on the way she's going, I'd certainly support her somewhere else."
Billy commented on the "very healthy glass culture" in Whanganui.