Stoneleigh People’s Choice Award goes to Bing Dawe

ARC Media Release

Stoneleigh People’s Choice Award goes to Bing Dawe
15 February 2010

Popular New Zealand artist Bing Dawe was yesterday awarded the Stoneleigh People’s Choice Award for his work From the series, A landscape with too many holes, ‘Wishing for St Francis’.

The award, voted for by the public during the three and a half month exhibition, was presented by Stoneleigh winemaker Jamie Marfell at the closing of Stoneleigh Sculpture in the Gardens 2009/10.

“This exhibition is about appreciating art in a public place, so it is fitting that the people who have come here and enjoyed Stoneleigh Sculpture in the Gardens get to select the worthy recipient of this award,” says Stoneleigh winemaker Jamie Marfell.

Bing Dawe’s sculpture is made from laser cut steel and native birds crafted from bronze It reflects Dawes’ ongoing concern for New Zealand’s native flora and fauna with birds swirling and posturing around a stylised tree trunk.

From the series, A landscape with too many holes, ‘Wishing for St Francis’ was sold at the beginning of the exhibition and will be displayed in a park in the United States.

About his Stoneleigh Sculpture in the Gardens work Dawe says winning the Stoneleigh People’s Choice Award is a heartening affirmation that people share his passion for New Zealand flora and fauna.

“If you want to say something you believe is important and get a public forum such as this, you have to consider yourself lucky,” he says. “Winning the Stoneleigh People’s Choice Award makes it clear to me that there is interest from the public in the plight of endangered and threatened birds.”

Dawe says he has done a lot of work around New Zealand native species that are ‘never much loved’, such as black shags and eels, because in general people are not attracted to them and their plight gets forgotten.

“What I have found most interesting with eels is that people consider them to be scary and dark – yet everyone has had an eel experience or is familiar with them, so I can get my point across.”

Preliminary visitation figures for the duration of Stoneleigh Sculpture in the Gardens estimate that more than 300,000 people came to the Gardens between early November 2009 and the closing of the show on 14 February 2010.

“The numbers of visitors at the exhibition go from strength to strength – no wonder when people can enjoy these fabulous gardens as well as inspiring and intriguing large scale public works of art.

“We thank all of the artists who took part in this show for sharing their talent with the regional public.”

At the opening of Stoneleigh Sculpture in the Gardens in November 2009, After the Flood by Auckland artist Christine Hellyar was awarded the McConnell Property Supreme Award. This award was judged by the Stoneleigh Sculpture in the Gardens curatorial panel of Alexa Johnston, Leo Jew and Lisa Reihana.

The Friends of the Auckland Botanic Gardens has supported Stoneleigh Sculpture in the Gardens from the outset and championed the idea of a large-scale sculpture trail with the Auckland Regional Council.

This support includes a pledge to purchase an artwork from each exhibition. At the opening of Stoneleigh Sculpture in the Gardens, the Friends announced the purchase of Caught in the Act of Losing You by Colleen Ryan-Priest. This artwork will remain in the Garden’s permanent collection.

ENDS

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