Tai Poutini Polytechnic Media Release
Friday 28 October 2016
Jade exhibition showcases award-winning talent
Tai Poutini Polytechnic’s (TPP’s) annual student jade carving exhibition will showcase some of the talent recognised at
the recent Aotearoa New Zealand Jade Artist Awards.
From next weekend, the local community can view the efforts of this year’s Jade and Hard Stone Carving students at the
Left Bank Art Gallery in Greymouth. The exhibition highlights the best of the students’ work over the past year and
shows their progression from beginner to skilled carver.
Jade and Hard Stone Carving Tutor Sheree Warren says the exhibition is a fantastic event for both students and the wider
community.
“For many of our students, this is their introduction to the industry. We have representatives from all around the
country visiting to check out our up-and-coming carvers. It really is the students’ time to shine: to put themselves out
there and see what it is like to showcase their work in a public environment.
“This year’s students have had plenty of opportunities to take their carving to the community, through the Kawatiri
Sculpture Symposium, the Jade Artist Awards and now our annual exhibition. It has been a good experience for them and it
is interesting for the community to see the progression of work from beginner through to some very skilled pieces.”
Jenny Keogan, President of the New Zealand Jade Artist Society which ran the recent Aotearoa New Zealand Jade Artist
Awards, says TPP students had a strong showing at the annual event.
“The calibre of exhibits for this year’s show was really very impressive, so for current and former polytechnic students
to receive awards was a good indication of just how skilled they are.”
The Society’s awards event was held in September in Hokitika and attracted international interest. At the time, six
former and current TPP students received awards including current student Brent Scott who received both the Highly
Commended Emerging Artist award and Overall People’s Choice Award. His work will be on display in November at the TPP
exhibition.
The TPP jade exhibition launches next Friday evening, 4 November, and will be open to the public for seven days, between
midday and 6.30pm.
ends