Suffolk Showcase award winners announced

Posted 08/04/2013

The popular Suffolk Showcase event, run by Bury St Edmunds art gallery Smiths Row, was launched with a preview evening on Friday 5 April. The event gives artists and makers from across the county the opportunity to have their work shown in the award-winning gallery.As well as spotlighting exciting new talent, the event also attracts a significant contribution by established Suffolk artists.The works were judged by an independent panel, including printmaker Adam Bridgland and Guy Noble, Arts Curator at University College London Hospitals. Two awards were presented at the preview evening, one of which was sponsored by Ashtons Legal.The Ashtons Legal Award went to Michael Wiggins who received £250 for his pen and ink drawing, A Century of Change. Sudbury-based Wiggins has been a full-time artist for five years. He describes his selected work as “…a symbolic expression, applauding the great inventions and achievements between 1830’s and the 1930’s…”Michael commented: “I was so surprised to win this Award because the entries for the Showcase were so varied and of such a high standard. I have been fortunate enough to be accepted for the Suffolk Showcase for the fifth time this year, so to receive this award as well is really encouraging.”Alan Brown, partner at Ashtons Legal, presented the award. He said: “We are delighted to support Suffolk Showcase as part of our continued commitment to supporting the Arts in the region. Smiths Row encapsulates so well many of the aspects of life that are valued by people who choose to live and work in Suffolk: art, entrepreneurship, and enhancing the lives of others to name but a few. We hope this is an initiative which will continue to go from strength to strength. We were very impressed by the high standard of entries but Michael John Wiggins’ work did stand out and was particularly intriguing and thought-provoking – a work where you notice new details with each study.”The Suffolk Showcase Award for 2013 was presented to James Stradner, for his digital print Landscape II (Pink).Niki Braithwaite, Director of Smiths Row, commented: “Suffolk Showcase continues to highlight the breadth and depth of artistic talent in the county and once again we are very pleased to have found some exciting new talent as well as having an opportunity to show the work of some of Suffolk’s more established artists.”The exhibition will be open until 8 June 2013.Further information and a photo of Michael’s artwork can be found here.Pictured above: Alan Brown presents Michael with the cheque. Credit: Bury Free Press.Further information:
Admission to the exhibition is free. Many of the works in the exhibition are for sale. Opening hours are: Tuesday – Saturday, 10.30am – 5pm. Please contact the gallery for further information:
Smiths Row, The Market Cross, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 1BT
Tel: 01284 762081
www.smithsrow.orgSmiths Row is an independent educational charity, established in 1972. The gallery shows changing exhibitions of contemporary art and craft, with related events, as well as running a craft shop specialising in high quality work by individual makers. The gallery champions contemporary craft in the East of England.