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Game of Two Halves — The Art of the Cliché is a national exhibition at the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts in Wellington where artists and visitors are invited to engage in all manner of clichés and perhaps see them in a totally new and exciting light.

To celebrate the Rugby World Cup here in "Godzone", the exhibition will be asking our artists to explore ideas around some of our favorite clichés and icons, sports or otherwise - "kicking for touch" to find the boundaries between what's cliché and what's iconic and then "going forward" find all the things that define and symbolise us to the world, "Kia kaha kiwiana", and "all credit to the opposition".

Alongside works by celebrated artists such as bronze sculptor Brett McKay, "toast" artist Maurice Bennett and clay sculptor Di Conway, some of the best of New Zealand’s visual arts, in the mediums of jewellery, painting, ceramics, glass, sculpture, art books and prints, will be on display.

The New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts has a proud, 127 year history of supporting and connecting artists with the public, so by visiting Game of Two Halves you’ll also have the opportunity to meet and work alongside some of Wellington’s top artists during the Artists in Action programme. This daily programme brings professional artists into the gallery space to demonstrate a wide range of visual art techniques, and at weekends you can become an "artist in action" yourself.

As part of the Real New Zealand festival every Saturday and Sunday during Game of Two Halves, the gallery will provide materials and volunteers to assist visitors to "have a go" for a nominal fee. These sessions are timed to coincide with key Rugby World Cup events in Wellington, so if you’ve always yearned to release your inner artist, here's your chance.

Opening

The Show will open in true half time fashion with a lunch time opening on Saturday the 10^th of September, 2011

People’s Choice award

It is with great pleasure that we will be presenting a peoples choice award which will be announced during this exhibition, so please be sure to place your vote. This has been made possible due to the wonderful support of Gordon Harris (Wellington)

Public Prize

Each person that enters the exhbition and signs up to our mailing list will go into the draw to win an orignal work of art by well known New Zealand painter Ian Hamlin.

You can see more of Ian Hamlin’s work here; www.ianhamlin.co.nz