A collection of works done by Waipā artists linked to Te Awamutu’s Enrich Plus community went on show last Tuesday at the IHC Art Awards viewing at the town’s Gallery on Teasdale.
Artist Paul Morriss, who delivers the Te Awamutu News when not painting, standing with his painting, entitled ‘Evening Sun’. Paul is a keen follower of Monet. His painting was also a finalist. Photo: Viv Posselt
Of those on show 10 pieces were selected as finalists by a panel of judges, and three as gallery finalists. They were shipped to Wellington earlier this week for inclusion in the IHC Art Awards 2025 in Wellington.
Te Awamutu Enrich Plus team manager Ngawai Hamblin told those at the showing that the standard of work was very high, and that work done by those who hadn’t made it through as a finalist was also “absolutely amazing”.
Twenty-two entries were received this year, two more than in 2024.
“This is our second public showing of the works entered into the IHC Art Awards,” she said. “Before we started having a public viewing, the artwork was sent to Wellington without there being an opportunity for anyone, including the artists’ families, to see the work. This public viewing gives them an opportunity to show people what they’ve been doing.”
Enrich Plus Te Awamutu team manager Ngawai Hamblin
Hamblin said the artists were able choose their preferred medium and topic, but they must have created the work themselves with minimal outside support.
Judging was done on the day before the public viewing by interim Enrich Plus chief executive Janne Nottage, Te Awamutu assistant team manager Kim Potroz, and Waipā District Council fleet and travel co-ordinators Claire Vincent and Frances Spooner.
Hamblin said Vincent and Spooner were the competition’s external judges.
Stevie Cook, who is a finalist in the awards, with her painting ‘Holiday Memories’, done to capture precious times spent with family in Whangamatā. Photo: Viv Posselt
“We have different opportunities with the council for our clients, one being the car-washing of their fleet cars every week.”
The gallery finalists were chosen by Hamblin and Theresa Siemonek, art facilitator at Enrich Plus Te Awamutu. They will be entered into the event’s Holdsworth Charitable Trust Scholarship Awards.
The national IHC Art Awards, which were first held in 2004, have become a major annual event aimed at providing a platform for New Zealand artists with an intellectual disability to showcase their creativity, gain recognition and sell their work.
The top prize is $5000.
Enrich Plus Te Awamutu team manager Ngawai Hamblin, right, and artist Kat Corin, alongside Kat’s painting ‘Midnight Reflection’. Behind Ngawai is a painting called ‘Wilhemus Pass’ by Willy Bardoul. Both paintings were finalists. Photo: Viv Posselt
