Original art expo
It’s exhibition time again for the Tauranga Society of Artists. The Society is the largest group of vibrant artists in the Bay and comprises some 200 members who participate in a wide range of art genres and mediums and produce an astounding variety of original artwork.
Following on from the very successful Original Art Expo in October 2019, the Society are again hosting the exhibition, including the Trustpower Supreme Award.
This is the Society’s most prestigious annual award. It is judged from a ‘Supreme’ section of the Expo wherein the artists can enter just one artwork. This year the judge will be Nicol Sanders O’Shea, Academic Leader of Arts, Music and Media at Tauranga and Rotorua Toi Ohomai (Polytech). There will be 5 Merit Awards and 1 Supreme Award presented at the Gala Opening, which will be led by Mayor Tenby Powell.
Some 300 paintings were on display in 2019 and a similar number is expected this year. This will be a very special collection of local original art for sale, introducing some interesting initiatives by the Society.
As well as The People’s Choice Award, which was won by Natalya Doudell in 2019 which gives visitors to the exhibition the opportunity to vote for their favourite painting, there will be some new elements to the event.
For the first time, there will be a Tiny Art section where artists can enter up to 3 miniature artworks- no larger than 22.5cm2. It’s a bit of fun and these artworks have a price cap of $150 so makes for an economical original artwork for art hunters.
Another new aspect to the exhibition is going to be Live Art. There will be artists working on artwork live at the exhibition so visitors can see art in action. Artists will be working in different mediums e.g. oils, watercolour, acrylic and pastels and Debbie Clarke, President of the Society, says, “We may even be lucky enough to have some live portraiture happening. We have many tremendously talented artists and would love to show them off and perhaps inspire visitors to take up some sort of art that they may always have wanted to do but not had the time or confidence to do so. We welcome new members and have lots to offer them.”
Tauranga Floral Art Group will be displaying their talents with some beautiful floral displays, complimenting the artworks.
The Society offers members daily opportunities to be involved in workshops, open sessions, tutorials and camaraderie, at their base Art Room in Elizabeth Street East which is complementary to the creative energy and skill that goes on in their own homes and studios.
The Original Art Expo takes place from 1st-4th October at Tauranga Boys College gymnasium - corner 14th Ave and Devonport Road Tauranga. Doors open from 9.30am to 5pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and Sunday 9.30-4pm. Entry by gold coin donation.
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