The Mercury Bay Art Escape’s People’s Choice Award is sponsored by Ryan Laird owner of Kaizen at Go Vino restaurant in Cooks Beach. The award runs in conjunction with the Showcase Exhibition at Hot Waves Cafe and gives visitors the opportunity to cast their vote for their favourite artwork. The exhibition shows one artwork from each member of Art Escape and runs from the Open Studios over the first two weekends in March until Easter Monday and is viewed by all who visit this popular cafe.
This year’s winner is The High Country by Jane Parson.
Painted in oil and cold wax medium it was almost a year in creation with many layers of various colours of oil and cold wax being smothered, scrapped, scratched, stamped, washed and solvent etched to get the feel of the expanse and terrain of the South Island tussock country where she grew up. The resulting textures gained in this way draw on skills gained as both a painter and the mark making of a printmaker. Jane is also a printmaker and is a member of X-Press Artists who meet regularly at the Coroglen Hall.
The painting sold as it was being hung and is now gracing the wall of its new owner.
