17 July 2007

Bombay Sapphire To Showcase New Zealand Glass Artists

Global glass art alongside NZ's best in Blue Room Exhibition, Auckland - 26/27 October, Wellington - 2/3/4 November 2007

The best of New Zealand's glass art will take centre stage for the first time in October 2007 at two unique exhibitions, created by Bombay Sapphire in Auckland and Wellington.

The exhibition will open to the public in Auckland on the 26th and 27th of October at Aveia Gallery and then travel to Wellington where it will be displayed at the NZ Academy of Fine Arts from Friday 2nd November to Sunday 4th November.

With a global commitment to the design world, Bombay Sapphire runs the world's largest international glass competition, known as the Bombay Sapphire Prize and now, the exhibitions in New Zealand.

There will be ten New Zealand pieces on display and a selection of the best of the Bombay Sapphire Prize from around the globe.

Four Bombay Sapphire pieces have been confirmed at this time: Rings, created by Japanese artist Chiho Hitomi; King Toledo Blade, by Australian Gerry King; NeON, by UK artist Paul Cocksedge and Mirror, by Samantha Sweet, also from the UK.

In 2006, entrants and past winners of the Bombay Sapphire prize were brought to New Zealand for a one off event in Auckland. Such was the interest from the glass art community that Bombay Sapphire in New Zealand has committed to growing the event into a public exhibition.

Bombay Sapphire Brand Manager, Natarsha Urquhart says the exhibitions are a unique chance for the public to see just how New Zealand's glass artists stack up next to their international peers.

"With such a strong international history in supporting design and particularly glass design, Bombay Sapphire sees the New Zealand market as a creative bed for nurturing future winners. Having first seen the calibre of NZ work last year, we believe these artists deserve a wider audience and so we've created these exhibitions, which in turn we hope will lead eventually to a NZ winner of the global prize."

The Editor for the New Zealand Society of Artists in Glass, Evelyn Dunstan says this initiative is hugely significant for the country's glass artists.

"We are over the moon at the opportunity to be selected for this Exhibition. Glass artists are well aware of Bombay Sapphire's commitment to the art internationally and it would be exciting and gratifying to be singled out in New Zealand for further exposure and profile."

Entries for consideration for inclusion in the Exhibition are now open. Interested artists who would like to have their work considered for inclusion should contact:

ENDS

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