McCaw Lewis Chapman Art Award 2006
Winner Paul Faris
‘Factory’ is large oil on canvas painting that deals with notions of pop culture, art history and fictions narratives. The painting displays three daleks, robot/human characters from the BBC television programme that are transported into the studio of Andy Warhol, the famous 1960’s American pop artist. Warhol used industrial processes and Henry Ford-like systems in his artmaking practice. Warhol also famously said ‘I wish to be a machine’ and titled his studio ‘the factory’, to remove to original aura of the artist. Faris refers to Warhol through the use of repetition in the figures of the daleks, and has painted them in primary colours of red, yellow and blue to the simple modernist palette of the 20th C, however ironically painting using earlier 16th and 17th C. methods.
Faris’ paintings generally have playful and humorous takes on history, art history and culture, and a research base in the crafting of painting of different eras.
Paul Faris has had a number of solo exhibitions in dealer and public galleries.. Paul has a Master of Fine Arts from Massey University, Wellington, where he is currently a Senior Tutor in Art and Design Studies. Paul spends time between Wellington and Cambridge in the summer months, where his parents still live. He has been a finalist twice in the Visa Gold Art Award, but the McCaw Lewis Chapman is his first Award.
McCaw Lewis Chapman Inaugural Art Award 2006
One of the finalists for the 2006 MLC Art Award by Adele Mitchell
Having its beginnings almost a century ago in 1906, McCaw Lewis Chapman is one of the most established law firms in the Waikato. They have combined this experience with a forward thinking approach to the environment in which their clients live and work.
In 2004 McCaw Lewis Chapman (MLC) relocated their offices to a new building on the River end of London Street. Having a historical relationship with the art community in Waikato, McCaw Lewis Chapman would like to enhance their new offices with original artworks by local artists.
Waikato Society of Arts (WSA) are working with MLC to run an art competition to choose a piece for a specific place in their new building.
The entries closed on 01 April 2006. 65 entries were received.
The initial judging panel was made up of Kate Burchett, Joan Fear and Barry Hopkins. These three people choose 14 finalists for exhibition at ArtsPost Chartwell Gallery in May. The initial three judges will be joined by McCaw Lewis Chapman partner Melanie Harland to select the winning work. The winner will be announced as part of the WSA gala evening at ArtsPost galleries, 120 Victoria Street, Hamilton on the evening of Tuesday 02 May at 5.30-7.30pm.
The winning work will be purchased by McCaw Lewis Chapman for $5,000. Non winning finalists work will be available for sale to public following announcement of winner.
Finalists for this inaugural award are:
· Paul Faris of Cambridge
· Alice Blackley of Te Puke
· Gary Collins of Hamilton
· Elsa Lye of Hamilton
· Tim Croucher of Hamilton
· Heather Leonard of Tirau
· Sue Heath of Hamilton
· Garry Moore of Hamilton
· Adele Mitchell of Te Pahu
· Kate Hill of Hamilton
· Kym Gilchrist of Hamilton
· Ngahina McGrath of Hamilton
· Carol Fletcher of Raglan
· Wanda Barker of Raglan