By Shaun Fay
For the past eight years, the Whangamata Harcourts Challenge and Big Arts Day Out has celebrated a diverse and vibrant range of artists. This much-loved event kicks off Anniversary Weekend on Friday night with an awards ceremony at the Memorial Hall.
Showcasing an eclectic mix of artistic genres from across the Paradise Coast, it has become a highly anticipated fixture on the calendar. This year, the organizers added a new category—creative writing, including poems and short stories—which was met with strong support.
Chris Brown, Sales Manager at Harcourts Whangamata and a long-time sponsor, is proud to back the event. “It’s not just about our brand or profile,” he explained. “It’s about being part of the community. Art brings people together, and isn’t that what real estate is all about?”
Artist Claire Fairweather is another enthusiastic participant. Known for selling a wide variety of creations during the three-day event, she attributes her versatility to a love of trying new things. “I just like to make things,” she said. “I don’t enjoy doing the same thing all the time, so I’ll give anything that catches my interest a go.” Similarly, long-time supporter Sue Jamieson believes in evolving her artistic style. “Art shouldn’t be static,” she said. “You have to keep experimenting to see what works.”
Heather Watt, a well-known local artist and chairperson of the Arts Collective, sees the group as a vital part of the community. “It’s all about connection,” she said. “Art can be a solitary pursuit, with hours spent working alone. Events like this bring us together to share stories and learn from one another. It’s also a great chance for locals to see what we do and support our ‘poor, struggling’ artists,” she added with a laugh.
This year’s theme, “Touch-Sight-Smell-Taste,” inspired more entries than ever before, reflecting the event’s growing popularity. There were 76 entries in the art category and 12 in the newly introduced creative writing section.
The winners were:
- Taste: Jo Cullen with Salt Air
- Smell: Jan Evans with Glorious Mud
- Sight: Rod Lawrence with Where’s the Bar
- Touch (and Supreme Winner): Ted Pickett with Pou
- Peoples Choice: Mandy Hewson with “Downtown”
- Creative writing:
- Winner: Caryl Cullen with “My Mother’s Kitchen”
- Highly commended Graeme Smith with “Tauhou/Wax-Eye”
