Molly Morpeth Canaday Award 3D 2022 is presented by Arts Whakatāne and exhibition partner, Te Kōputu a te whanga a Toi – Whakatāne Library and Exhibition Centre.
This annual non-acquisitive award is dedicated to excellence across contemporary and traditional painting and drawing and 3D genres in alternate years. The award has developed over 30 years and sits credibly within the New Zealand arts community. A high standard of work is selected to form the exhibition from nationwide entries by three pre-selection judges working independently.
The awards ceremony can be live-streamed via the Molly Morpeth Facebook page on Saturday 12 February from 6:30pm.
The finalists have been selected from a pool of exceptional three dimensional work from all over Aotearoa. The standard has been extremely high and has been a challenging task for the three preliminary judges. Out of 294 works, 60 artists (62 works) have been shortlisted, and six are from Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty: Anett Pilz (Whakamārama), Donna Dinsdale (Te Puke), John Roy (Tauranga), Julie Paama-Pengelly (Pāpāmoa), Shona Tawhiao, and Kereama Taepa (Pāpāmoa). Best of luck to you all!
Read more about our local finalists below, and click here for the full list.
Anett Pilz (Whakamarama)
“I started being creative in the same age my grandchildren are now. I have always loved drawing and creating things. Because I also wanted to inspire other people I worked as a teacher in Germany for mathematics and art, later for computer technology. Now I am teaching pottery at the Bethlehem Pottery Club.
I started doing pottery late, in 2001. When we moved to NZ in 2008 I had more time to refine my hobby.
In 2010 I joined the Bethlehem Pottery Club. I found a lot of inspiration, help and new friends in this club. With the help of the members of the Bethlehem Pottery club I enjoy exploring new things: the chemistry of glaze, Raku-firing and experimenting with different tools and techniques.
Since 2015 I am a member of the NZ Potters Incorporation.
I always loved drawing. Now I have found a way of combining to work with clay and decorating, creating simple forms and painting them with my cobalt-blue pattern. Sometimes I do a third firing for the gold-decoration.
My work is represented in the Inspirit Gallery, Cambridge, the Waihi Beach Gallery and the Bethlehem Pottery Club Gallery.”¹
Donna Dinsdale (Te Puke)
“Donna teaches the Fashion Design major within the Bachelor of Creative Industries at Toi Ohomai.
She holds a Bachelor of Design from Otago University and a Master of Design from Auckland University of Technology.
“I love learning about cultural influences in art and design and sharing my knowledge with students and aspiring designers. I’m grateful I can practice both of my passions: teaching and fashion,” Donna says.
Over the past 20 years, she’s been building a career that enables her to do just that, as well as having the opportunity to further her own learning and curiosity.
Highlights of her career include showcasing her designs at the WOW World of Wearable Art Museum in Nelson and travelling to Tonga in 2018 to present and deliver a workshop to fashion design students at the Ahopanilolo Technical Institute. In 2019, she was awarded first place in the Menswear category and winner of the Overall Award of Excellence at the annual Hokonui Fashion Design Awards.
In her personal life, she still loves to be creative, as well as giving back to the community. Donna creates fashion and textile-based custom work for exhibitions and competitions, do freelance fashion design work, work as a community-based volunteer, dabble in cake decorating and Raranga (Māori flax weaving). She’s also Chairperson of the Tia Marae Hineota Kitchen Committee”.²
John Roy (Tauranga)
“John Roy is a Tauranga based artist. He studied ceramics at Wanganui Polytechnic graduating in 1997. His own trophies include a commission by Creative New Zealand in 2007 and his work being acquired for the Auckland War Memorial in 2006.”³
Julie Paama – Pengelly (Pāpāmoa)
“Julie has been at the forefront of developments in Māori Arts since the mid 1980s and was fortunate to have been taught herself by strong visionary Māori artists and mentors. Julie focused her passion on Māori tattooing traditions post-1990, enlightened to the role that Tā moko could play in advancing the health and well-being of Māori.
Vocal in her conviction that within Māori pedagogy body marking serves as a powerful communicator, Julie has equally advocated for the restoration of Māori women within its practice. Active in Tā moko during its fledgling revival, Julie pioneered the role of women as practitioner and the entitlement of women to wear particular types of moko. In 2004, Julie was commissioned – along with New Zealand’s foremost Tā moko artists – to perform her practice publicly at Te Papa National Museum during which time she tattooed full peha or puhoro (covering lower back, hips and thighs to knee) on two women.
While consistently challenged on the involvement of women in customary Māori art practices, Julie has responded by directing leadership in research and social commentary on Māori arts. In 2010, she penned the award-winning book Māori Art & Design, the first comprehensive handbook on the subject. Julie holds Masters qualifications in Third World Development and Māori Visual Arts (honours) as well as Toi Iho certification – a unique registered Aotearoa New Zealand trademark of Māori quality and authenticity – for Tā moko, design and multimedia. While operating a successful studio in Mount Maunganui, Julie is particularly enthusiastic to make connections with other indigenous peoples reviving their tattoo practices.”⁴
– Creative Directory (Creative BOP)
Kereama Taepa (Pāpāmoa)
“Kereama Taepa studied for his Bachelor of Māori Visual Arts at Massey University in Palmerston North, and continued on to gain his Masters degree. Taepa’s involvement in the arts have been broad and varied including bronze technician at the Dibble Arts Foundry and participating in various national Māori arts symposiums, workshops and hui.
Taepa taught art within the Te Whare Wānanga O Awanuiārangi Art and Visual Culture Degree for four years and currently teaches within Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology’s Bachelor of Creative Industries Degree in the Bay of Plenty.
He has exhibited his art nationally and internationally, and has works in collections across New Zealand and abroad. He has recently unveiled ‘Tohorā’ on the Kāpiti Coast, 2020 as well as ‘Pōhutukawa’ on the Tauranga Waterfront, 2018. Other major public works include the ‘a (very) brief history of aotearoa’ sculptures for the Four Plinths Sculpture Project in Wellington, 2016 and a public sculpture titled ‘tichi’ in New Plymouth, 2015. He is a Supreme Award winner of the Rotorua Art Awards 2017, the Molly Morpeth 2D Art Award in 2008 and recently received the Runner Up Award at the National Art Awards 2018.”⁵
Shona Tawhiao
“Shona, who is originally from Tauranga has created a local and international profile for traditional and contemporary mahi raranga (flax weaving). Her work has showed in Paris, London and Melbourne and her garments have been on the runway during New Zealand, Melbourne and London Fashion Weeks.
Her uniquely designed garments are created combining modern materials and native flax (Harakeke), made with matching accessories such as hats and shoes.
Unlike most other designers, Shona mixes traditional Maori weaving skills with her eye for contemporary design.”⁶
Image: 2020 major award winner – MMCA 2020 3D
Sorawit is an artist currently based in Te-Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington. Their interdisciplinary practice often comprises sculpture, ceramics, textiles, and digital animations. Through their installations, they reinterpret connections and the dynamic relationships we have with the natural world.
Recent exhibitions include Heavy trees, arms and legs, The Suter Art Gallery (2021); Come up for air, The Lightship (2020); Rumours (mermaid), Govett Brewster Art Gallery (2020); The Interior, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki (2019).
