Ashburton Society of Arts committee members are preparing for their 60th annual art exhibition at the Ashburton Art Gallery.
Tickets have quickly sold out this week for the opening night and awards presentation. It will be held on Monday night, followed by the exhibition itself beginning on Tuesday.
On Saturday it was receiving day, where members set up at the gallery to receive work from the 156 artists entered.
It was a busy day as they spent four hours registering, cataloguing, and checking entry details for the more than 300 pieces of art.
On a regular basis entries had to be moved from the receiving area into the gallery to make room for a constant stream of new arrivals. Gallery staff were on hand to assist. President Kay Begg said entries from Mid Canterbury and further afield revealed the talent of artists, and showed how popular the exhibition was.
‘‘It really is amazing the talent that’s throughout New Zealand, because we do get entries from outside the area,’’ Begg said.
Guest artists will also feature.
They include Brian Baxter, David Lloyd, Galina Kim, Lynda Scott, Sara Beal, Silversmiths Guild and Stewart Nimmo.
Saturday also saw the final stages of the society’s Short Street Studio and gallery building face lift completed.
A 1.2m high corten steel wall sculpture, designed by committee members and depicting the society’s logo, was installed. This followed installation of new fence signage last week and the building being painted in May.
- * Ashburton Society of Arts 60th Annual Exhibition runs from July 2 to July 26.
