Janet Green's Conversation wins premier award

Janet Green's Conversation wins premier award in Wairarapa Review VII at Aratoi

Masterton ceramicist Janet Green has scooped the premier award in the Wairarapa Review for the second time, with her stoneware work Conversation. The awards ceremony for the Wairarapa Review VII was held at Aratoi on Friday, and also marked the opening of Okey Dokey, a show of paintings by another Masterton artist, Taren Wood. The Review is a selected exhibition of Wairarapa artists, organised by the Friends of Aratoi, with a premier prize of $2000.

Conversation evokes a silent, mysterious communication between two creatures. Janet's work is in private and gallery collections throughout New Zealand. Janet Green, a tutor at King Street Artworks, won the premier prize for a ceramic vessel Loutrophoros in the 2005 Review show. The work was purchased for Aratoi's collection.

Nicki Stewart and Craig Ramsay each won Highly Commended prizes of $1000. Nicki's Wondering is a small wax encaustic on board of a group of people in a landscape, which is cleverly 'open-ended' allowing many possible readings. Nicki, whose work is featured at The Village Art Shop, Greytown, said she was surprised by the win especially as she had been undecided about entering right up to the last minute. Craig Ramsay's win put the seal on his move from Dannevirke to Masterton four months ago, during which time he has become a regular visitor to Aratoi. Craig's multimedia work, The Hydra at the Bottom of the Garden, incorporates found objects and metalwork: "When we were very young, there were fairies at the bottom of the garden. There still are, and they fight dragons," he said.

There were around 100 entries in this year's Review, with just under 40 selected. Aratoi director Marcus Boroughs thanked this year's judges, Penney Moir and Jenny Neligan of Bowen Galleries, Wellington. He said this year's Review was notable for featuring - for the second time - three generations of artists from a single family; Carol Bauer, her daughter-in-law Viv Walker, and granddaughter Caitlin Bauer.

In congratulating the artists selected and commending the range and quality of work on display, the judges commented: "The artists need to know that they enhance everyone's lives, so it is essential to keep making art. It is important for the community to have such inspiration on a daily basis, and whenever we visit Wairarapa, we always visit Aratoi, King Street Artworks, or the Library."

Visitors to the show, which runs until 18 March 2012, are invited to vote in the People’s Choice Award, which is valued at $500. This prize will be announced after the closing. Work not selected for the Review is on display in the Salon de Refusé exhibition at the Carterton Events Centre until 5 February. The Wairarapa Review VII is sponsored by Friends of Aratoi; Sadler Oakley Newman; The Aratoi Foundation; Property Brokers; Rick & Margaret Long; The Animal Hospital (J McLaren), and Dave & Jenny Borman.

Also showing at Aratoi: That was then. this is now – Harry Watson, until 26 February 2012; Okey Dokey – Taren Wood, until 29 January 2012; We are all transistors - Carla Cescon, Scott Donovan and Alex Gawronski from ICAN, Sydney, until 19 Feb 2012. Aratoi is open daily from 10am-4.30pm, and closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day andNew Years Day. Aratoi - Wairarapa Museum of Art & History, Bruce St, Masterton. www.aratoi.co.nz.

ENDS

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