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Dunedin artist Max Bellamy has won the $5,000 Art Excellence award for his photo 'Des Artistes' at the 2013 Art Gold Awards. At an awards ceremony, held at the Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery in Alexandra on Friday, over 100 guests gathered for the exhibition opening featuring the award finalists. Judges Jamie Hanton, Director of The Blue Oyster Art Project Space in Dunedin, and Felicity Milburn, from the Christchurch Art Gallery, said Mr Bellamy's photo was a work that revealed itself slowly, delivering unexpected reward for sustained consideration. "Its multitude of possible meanings is enriched by the work's understated irony and humour," Ms Milburn said. They felt the Arts Gold Awards gives local practitioners an opportunity to engage in a wider dialogue with artists from outside the Central Otago region and in turn gives those artists based elsewhere a chance to have their work seen in a new context. Eric Schusser, of Alexandra, was chosen as the Central Otago Artist Award winner. He received $2000 for his photo 'Hay Bale Wrapper #1', taken of a wind-torn wrapper along Riverbank Rd in Wanaka. "This work is a great example of an artist who has taken a familiar, and perhaps unremarkable, subject and transformed it into an object of beauty and mystery", Jamie Hanton said.

The 45 Arts Gold Award finalists work will be on display at Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery until the 7th of December. This presents a fantastic opportunity to see an exhibition of this calibre where you will see many different approaches encompassing a broad range of media and artistic concerns. The public are encouraged to vote on their favourite artwork for the Viewers' Choice Award, which is announced on the 5th of December. Help the artist you love the most win $1,000. By voting you go into the draw to win) 6 bottles of Central Otago wine. Go to www.artsgold.co.nz to check out the online gallery.

List of artists in the exhibition: A.J. Villos, Alastair Hansen, Andi Regan, Anna Reid, Anna Smythe, Aroha Novak, Astrid Visser, Bianca Laing, Blue W Black, Brent Hollow, Clarry Neame, Daniel Roberts, David Gibbons, Desi Liversage, Eric Schusser, Jane Whitaker, Janyne Fletcher, Jillian Porteous, John Mayne, Justin Spiers, Kim Logue, Kristin O'Sullivan Peren, Lisa Chandler, Marion Mewburn, Max Bellamy, Megan Huffadine, Melita Johnston, Michael Deavoll, Moniek Schrijer, Natchez Hudson, Nigel Wilson, Philip Jarvis & Madeleine Child, Paula Grant, Peter Collis, Peter McLaren, Philippa OBrien, Ro Bradshaw, Rosemary Mortimer, Shane Burns, Sharnae Beardsley, Sue Scobie, Tania Bostock, Tanya Mercer, Tom Ellison and Vera Lin

The Arts Gold Exhibition is open daily 10am - 4pm until 7th of December.

The Central Otago District Arts Trust extends their sincere appreciation to the supporters and sponsors of the Arts Gold Awards: Central Lakes Trust, Otago Community Trust, Russell Henderson Charitable Trust, Vincent Community Board, Pub Charity, Alexandra Community Arts Council, The 4 Marketeers and Olivers Quartz Reef Wine, Three Miners, New World, Henry's and Betta Electrical.