Paraparaumu Rotary Art Show's special evening

BEST IN SHOW: A painting called The Keeper, by Soraya Bradley, right, won best in show at the Paraparaumu Rotary Art Show. Pictured left is Soraya's daughter Arwen Bradley.

There was a special announcement at the preview evening of the Paraparaumu Rotary Art Show last night.

Paraparaumu Rotary Club president Marion Patchett said not only would the show proceeds go towards the new Kapiti Performing Arts Centre, but the club was giving $30,000 out of its arts trust fund towards the centre.

Cas Carter, on behalf of the arts centre, thanked the club for recognising the importance of arts in the district.

"The Kapiti Performing Arts Centre is going to be a flagship for the creative arts.

"A contemporary purpose built place for everyone to celebrate and showcase the arts."

Many people attended the preview evening at Southwards Theatre where over 300 artworks are on display, and sale, for the long weekend.

Winning best in show as an artwork called The Keeper, painted by Manakau artist Soraya Bradley.

Her oil on linen panel, worth $1,850 was painted this year and took about 60 to 70 hours to create.

She said the painting had a narrative quality where "even though you're young you feel like you're carrying all of your family's history - like the keeper of the records".

"My mum died quite young, and all of the women in the family were quite young, so I was about 26 and I was the oldest woman on my mum's side, and I always felt there was this sense where you had to carry the history.

"You're not just you - you're sort of part of everybody that came before you.

"But I don't want to make that too overt in the painting so you can read what you want into it."

Proud daughter Arwen Bradley, 19, said, "She deserves it so much.

"I see her work for hours and hours on so many different paintings and it's amazing that it's recognised.

"The painting is one of my favourites as well so I'm really happy this one won."