Sandz artists get into COCA exhibition

31 May 2010
The work of Sandz Gallery Studio artists Dianne Cadman and Cherie Mellsopp features in the 2010 COCA Anthony Harper Contemporary Art Award exhibition, on in Christchurch until 3 July.

Curator, writer and editor Lara Strongman was the judge of the award, which was won by photographer Ann Shelton for her work Wintering, After a Van der Velden Study; Otira Gorge 2008.

“This was huge milestone for our two artists,” says Sandz Gallery team leader Emma Fletcher. “We’re extremely proud of Dianne and Cherie.”

Dianne is also one of 132 artists from around the world whose collage work will feature in the 12th International Collage Exhibition in France. One of her collages will go into the collection of Art Colle, the museum of collage in France.

Dianne has worked as an artist at Sandz in Hamilton for more than 10 years, and her work has been described as “meticulous” and “sophisticated”.

“Art for Dianne is a necessary process that is innate to her as an individual. It is fantastic for others to get an insight into a different way of thinking,” Emma Fletcher.

Last year Cherie won the IHC Telecom Art Awards’ top prize. Green Spots with Pen was the winning work, made up of 1500 green dots layered on canvas and superimposed with a design of black and silver squares. It stopped judge and artist Dick Frizzell “in his tracks”.

Cherie has worked at Sandz for six years. The gallery and work space is shared by artists with intellectual disabilities.