Dunedin artist James Robinson has been announced as the Paramount winner of the prestigious 2007 Wallace Art Award, while Nelson artist Lianne Edwards picked up the Development Award. James Wallace, Chairman of the Wallace Arts Trust, described Robinson's winning mixed media on paper (sewn) and canvas titled Taniwha/Dragon (qi gong notes, spirit bones) as "a very provocative yet successful work, with incredibly original ideas and presentation".

Image: Taniwha/Dragon (qi gong notes, spirit bones) (detail), James Robinson.Dunedin artist James Robinson has been announced as the Paramount winner of the prestigious 2007 Wallace Art Award, while Nelson artist Lianne Edwards picked up the Development Award. James Wallace, Chairman of the Wallace Arts Trust, described Robinson's winning mixed media on paper (sewn) and canvas titled Taniwha/Dragon (qi gong notes, spirit bones) as "a very provocative yet successful work, with incredibly original ideas and presentation".

Image: Taniwha/Dragon (qi gong notes, spirit bones) (detail), James Robinson.Robinson receives a six-month residency in New York with the International Studio and Curatorial Program, valued at over $35,000, and a bronze trophy by leading New Zealand sculptor Terry Stringer.

Development Award winner Lianne Edwards receives a three-month residency at the Vermont Studio Center, valued at $15,000. Mr Wallace said Lianne's used postage stamps titled 4dPiwakawaka: 1d Health "achieves its success by intricacy and delicacy".

Runners Up Awards ($1500 each) were presented to Kirsten Roberts for her painting Untitled (Pink) and Andrea Du Chatenier for her knitted sculpture Love Sanctuary (with heliport). Megan Jenkinson received the Jury Award for her lenticular print Atmospheric Optics V.

The five award winners were selected from 436 entries by a judging panel comprising respected New Zealand artists, art lecturers, administrators and critics Richard Fahey, Peter Gibson-Smith, Warwick Brown, Rohan Wealleans and Linda Tyler.

The 2007 Wallace Art Awards were presented by the Governor General, Hon Anand Satyanand, at the opening of the exhibition of finalists at Auckland's Aotea Centre. The exhibition will be open for public viewing from 4 September to 1 October. It will then relocate to the Wallace Wing at TheNewDowse Gallery in Wellington.

A Salon de Refuse, comprising finalists not selected by the judging panel for the main exhibition, is also open for public viewing from 4 September until 1 October at The Wallace Arts Trust Gallery, 305 Queen Street, Auckland City. A People's Choice Award will be voted by the public attending the exhibitions.

Previous paramount winners of the Wallace Art Awards include New Zealand artists Jeffrey Harris, Bill Hammond, Gregor Kregar, Jim Speers, Fatu Feu'u, Elizabeth Thomson, Jim Speers and Judy Millar.

Established in 1991, the Wallace Art Awards are New Zealand's longest surviving and richest annual art awards, valued at more than $58,000. The Awards celebrate contemporary New Zealand painting, sculpture, drawing and unique photography. They encourage the visual arts in New Zealand and reward those producing outstanding work with educational grants. Entry is restricted to New Zealand citizens and permanent residents.

4/9/07