This year’s Eden Arts winners with judges: AD Schierning (far left), director of Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery and Martino Michael, Elvira Trowbridge and Damen Dooms, performance artist Kalisolaite ‘Uhila (far right).
Unitec | Te Pūkenga School of Creative Industries celebrated a successful night at the annual Eden Arts Art Schools Award, winning an unprecedented three of the four major awards that were announced at Webb’s Gallery, Mt Eden on Friday, 20 October.
Unitec | Te Pūkenga entered five third-year Design and Contemporary Art ākonga for this year’s event: Martino Michael, Elvira Trowbridge, Damen Dooms, Alyssa Beckwith and Erin Gosselman. Martino Michael and Elvira Trowbridge both won Highly Commended Awards of $2,500 while Damen Dooms won the board’s choice award of $750.
Head of School, Creative Industries, Vanessa Byrnes said it was a significant achievement for the school and Unitec | Te Pūkenga. “It’s humbling and exciting to see our ākonga (learners) being recognised for the exciting diversity of works they have created. We’re super proud of these students and our School.”
2022 award recipient and current Master of Creative Practice ākonga, Tonina Ngatai was a guest speaker at this year’s ceremony and she spoke of the opportunities that have opened up since winning her award. Organised by the Eden Arts Trust since 2011, Eden Arts presents the best student works from Auckland’s four major art schools: Elam, Whitecliffe, AUT and Unitec | Te Pūkenga.
Elvira Trowbridge with her work “Abandon Us”
Damen Dooms with his photographic work, ‘The Boyz’
Martino Michael with his sculpture work, ‘O le Malaga o le o’o’