Young artists' diversity on show

A diverse range of backgrounds and use of materials are represented in an art exhibition by nine Waiariki Institute of Technology final year diploma students.

The students enrolled in the three-year advanced art and design diploma course will present their final year's work in the Invisible Threads exhibition at the Waiariki campus tonight.

Artworks include ceramics, acrylic and oil paint, photography, mixed media, textiles and sculpture.

Creative arts programme leader Don Overbeay said the group - Keri Bennett, Maria Gedye, Jaime Jenkins, Kristina Joyce, Tammy Kuypers, Bronwyn McKenzie, Nicola Parkinson, Ally Rogers and Kieth Walker - had a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences to draw inspiration from for their artwork.

Mr Overbeay said the department was proud to present the students' work after the huge amount of time and effort that had gone into the exhibition's production and presentation.

"The exhibition is the culmination of a year of hard work by the nine students and there is a wide range of artistic styles, influences and media.

"The advanced diploma students are allowed great latitude in the development of their individual artistic practice and their work is based on academic and practical research, in which experimentation is stressed early."

The exhibition emphasises a conceptually focused body of work by students from the second half of the final year.

"My hope is that all the students have undergone an evolution in terms of their artistic ideas and practice, if so then learning has taken place," Mr Overbeay said.

More than 30 pieces of art will be on display at the exhibition with some artwork offered for sale.

After graduation the students will go on to work in a variety of employment areas, including education, curating, graphic art, or community art projects.

WHAT: Invisible Threads art exhibition.
WHO: Advanced Diploma Art and Design students.
WHERE: Waiariki Institute of Technology Mokoia campus (I Block atrium, J Block gallery).
WHEN: Tonight 6pm, runs until Dec 13.
sptw/strong> Free.