The New Alchemists Exhibition and Calendar

The New Alchemists exhibition "invites us to engage in the debate about the environment and makes us think about what we really value. It is actually trying to change the way we view our world, and in that regard is provocative with quite a serious intent". Cassandra Fusco

Image: Lyttelton artist, Tony Bond's Pharmunculus, a bowl-shaped vessel made from plastic pill bottles collected from friends and family over a two-year period. The New Alchemists Exhibition and Calendar

The New Alchemists exhibition "invites us to engage in the debate about the environment and makes us think about what we really value. It is actually trying to change the way we view our world, and in that regard is provocative with quite a serious intent". Cassandra Fusco

Image: Lyttelton artist, Tony Bond's Pharmunculus, a bowl-shaped vessel made from plastic pill bottles collected from friends and family over a two-year period.Five prize-winners and thirty-two finalists were selected from over 100 entries for the Christchurch-based Biennial National Art Awards for Artworks in Reclaimed Materials. The award, now a touring exhibition titled The New Alchemists has toured New Zealand extensively and is about to embark on a three-gallery tour of Victoria, Australia.

The winning work Pharmunculus was described by judges Judy Darragh, Ani O'Neill and Sean Kerr as "a striking work which demonstrates the transformation of materials successfully", it is regarded as a critique on our "pharmaceutical culture" and how the taking of drugs is a part of daily life for many people.

The four Merit Awards of $1,000 each went to the following artists: Annie Bourque from Paraparaumu for Wrapped, Bought & Bagged, a work made from recycled paper commenting on the personal baggage carried by the individual in an increasingly consumer-based society.

David McDonald from Wanganui won a Merit Award for his topical work made from woven Number 8 wire, Hinaki (Eel Net). Within the net is concealed a loud-hailer symbolizing the protest of people and the silent voice of the land as the Maori and Pakeha cultures become increasingly interwoven over the centuries.

Tea Party by Te Puke artist Joanna Langford was described by the judges as "whimsical and engaging" - a work with a "cinematic" quality, using found lenses, china tea cups and lights to challenge viewer expectations.

The fourth Merit Award went to Shelley Norton from Hamilton for Flattened Hierarchies, a collection of thirty-five tiny jewel-like pieces made from finely woven coloured plastic - a work in miniature which deals with notions of obsession and performance.

The judges were impressed with the diverse range of work and inventive range of materials. They enjoyed the quirky and fresh nature of the entries which they believed were indicative of the Art Awards' continued development.

The winners' and finalists' works, exhibited as the The New Alchemists, opened at the Centre of Contemporary Art in Christchurch on August 10, 2004. The exhibition has toured to the Southland Museum & Art Gallery (September 10 to November 14 2004); The Dowse Art Museum, Lower Hutt (December 18 to March 27, 2005); Te Manawa Gallery, Palmerston North (April to May, 2005); The Suter in Nelson ( 25 June - 26 July) and the Millennium Public Art Gallery in Blenheim (August 5-September 26 2005). It will then be hosted by four galleries in the Australian State of Victoria, including Gippsland Regional Art Gallery (12 November 2005 - January 8 2006) Swan Hill (11 February - April 2 2006) and Monash Gallery of Art (June 23 - August 20 2006).

The Redesigning Resources Group inaugurated the event in 2000 and continues to support it as an integral part of its sustainable development programme.

An A2, full-colour New Zealand Art Calendar (2006 to 2008) featuring 13 works from the exhibition is now available for purchase featuring full-colour A2 photographs of artworks made from reclaimed materials.

Independent art producer, Lorraine North, Director of Professional Arts Services in Christchurch, who published the calendar and also produced the exhibition and tour, says:

"The calendar is to promote the Australian leg of the tour, but also to draw attention internationally to the type of fresh, innovative work being made by New Zealand artists utilising reclaimed materials. I think the huge popularity of the exhibition is partly due to the fact that Kiwis still like the idea of being able to make anything out of a piece of Number 8 wire, though many of the most positive comments in the galleries' visitors' books came from overseas visitors. People generally are fascinated by what can be done with the sort of stuff we usually throw away."

As well as domestic purchase, Ms North wants to see the limited edition calendar distributed by companies and government agencies who will benefit from promoting New Zealand overseas as a place which is not only creative and fun, but is also sophisticated in art and design while connecting with global issues as well.

"As with many works in this arte povera genre, the pieces featured have elements of humour and whimsy - some of them are really quirky - but at the same time, the use of reclaimed material in art raises issues of a political and social nature," says Ms North.

The awards, exhibition and tour are produced by Lorraine North of Professional Arts Services, Christchurch. Contact Lorraine pro.arts@netaccess.co.nz or 03 365 3829. Please contact Lorraine North or Mark Prain 021 43 44 00 for details.