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Andrew Blythe wins AttitudeTV Artistic Achievement Award.
Auckland artist Andrew Blythe has won the Attitude Artistic Achievement Award 2012, announced last night at a black tie gala evening at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre.
Since 2000, Andrew’s passion for painting has been supported by Toi Ora Live Art Trust, a creative space (community arts centre) in Grey Lynn, Auckland. Toi Ora provides studio space and tuition for people who have experienced mental illness.
“We were thrilled that Andrew won this award,” says Erwin van Asbeck, Director, Toi Ora Live Art Trust. “This caps off an amazing year where he’s had a lot of national and international exposure. Now, we’re looking forward to Andrew’s next show at the Tim Melville Gallery in the first half of 2013.”
In July, Andrew was highly commended in Arts Access Aotearoa’s Big ‘A’ Artistic Achievement Award 2012. Through his art and with the support of Toi Ora, Andrew has found a way to keep well. His art is a full-time job and he has been exhibiting his works over the past nine years in numerous group shows, as well as two solo shows in at Satellite Gallery and at the Tim Melville Gallery, both in Auckland.
He was also one of the artists with work in Arts Access Aotearoa’s “Original Voices” exhibition, on at the Pataka Museum of Arts and Cultures in Porirua, in September. With Stuart Shepherd, his paintings have been shown in Paris, at the New York Outsider Art Fair, and at the MADmusée in Liège, Belgium in August and September this year. Most recently, his work featured at the Darren Knight Gallery in Sydney.
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Stuart says “His work is extremely consistent and assured, and he seems to have an intuitive radar that guides his composition. Andrew contributes to the international language of abstraction.” Erwin says that Andrew’s work has developed hugely since he’s been coming to Toi Ora. “His wellness has also flourished to the point where he is living independently.”
Other Attitude Award recipients are Erin Gough (Youth Award), Neelusha Memon (Courage in Sport), Adam Hall (Sport Performer), Sir Murray Halberg (Hall of Fame Inductee), Invacare (Attitude ACC Employer Award) and Nola Burgess, who won the Attitude Making a Difference Award. Sharon Davies won the Spirit of Attitude Award and Attitude ACC Supreme Award, heading off strong competition from more than 20 other national finalists.
The Attitude Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of New Zealanders living with a disability and have grown out of the Attitude TV series, which screens on TV ONE on Sunday mornings. “The prime objective of the Attitude Awards is to create more awareness and consideration of the contributions made by New Zealanders living with disability,” Robyn says.
ACC is proud to be principal sponsor of the Awards. Ralph Stewart, ACC Chief Executive, says: “The recipients of this year’s Attitude Awards have pursued life with a positive attitude, strength and determination. They demonstrate that with ambition and the right support it’s possible for anyone to achieve their goals, regardless of the obstacles they face along the way.”
Full list of winners and locations:
Attitude ACC Supreme Award and Spirit of Attitude Award
- Sharon Davies; Swanson, Auckland
Attitude Hall of Fame Inductee
- Sir Murray Halberg; Auckland
Attitude Sports Performer Award
- Adam Hall; Wanaka
Attitude Courage in Sport Award
- Neelusha Memon; Wellington
Attitude ACC Employer Award
- Invacare; Mt Wellington, Auckland
Attitude Youth Award
- Erin Gough; Christchurch
Attitude Artistic Achievement Award
- Andrew Blythe; Sandringham, Auckland
Attitude Making a Difference Award
- Nola Burgess; Gisborne
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For more information contact:
Helen Johnson, Project Manager- The Attitude Awards
- Tel: (09) 309 4015
- Mob: 021 044 0831
- Email: helen@attitudeawards.org
