HRV Sponsors 2011 Ag Art Wear at Fieldays.

June 2011

For the third year in a row, HRV have proudly sponsored the Ag Art Awards at the 43rd Fieldays in the Waikato.

This is a showcase of simply outstanding design and creativity - outfits designed with resources found in general farming use. We love to support innovation and creativity in the community.

Designers have transformed rural implements found on the farm into artistic masterpieces which barely resemble the agricultural products they are constructed from. The sophisticated and polished runway show is one of the most popular sub events at the New Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays, viewed by thousands visitors throughout the four days of the event. The winners of the four sections of the Ag Art Wear competition were announced at a full capacity show, Friday 17th June.

Alle Peterkin, a local fourteen‐year‐old, took out the Avant Garde section with her inspiring piece Semi Precious which was also was the People's Choice winner. The plastic hexagon shaped design pumps water throughout the garment symbolising how precious the water is on the land. Alle also received a Runner Up placing for Dairy Fairy in the Under 21 category.

The Runner Up of the Avant Garde division was awarded to Katherine Morrison for her structurally intricate piece, The dance of the Wired and Woolly Fence Breaker. Arachnophobia, a webbed wonder by Corinne Heintze obtained the Highly Commended award.

The Under 21 category is similar to the Avant Garde section as it asks designers to create something unique that challenges conventional design. Laken Semmens took out the Under 21 section with her elegant dress made from tea bags titled Just another 'mad hatters' tea party - time for a tea break? An Australian entrant, Lachlan Sully, placed Highly Commended with his graceful piece, Gone Fishin'.

Nina McBeth from Taupo won the NZ Landcare Trust category with her creation Kohara Whakapaipai (Wilderness Jewels). Kohara Whakapaipai incorporates sustainable resources including wild sika, deer hide, feathers and cow hide all sourced from the local land. Pingao Maiden by Tracey Brown was presented Runner Up and Bill and Rose Paul received Highly Commended with Kokiri Aroha.



The Designer Traditional section was taken out by Betty Park, another Australian entrant, with her incredibly constructed complete outfit, Jungle Jigsaw. Runner Up was awarded to Charlotte Lind with her wool inspired creation, Fleeced. Colleen Mak received the Highly Commended award with her simple but effective gun shell dress, Shell We Dance?

The judges of the Ag Art Wear competition are Marion Manson from ArtsPost, Jennifer Whitty a Senior Lecturer from Massey Institute of Design, Nardene Berry from NZ Landcare Trust and flourishing designer of the fashion label Love Lucy, Jenna McLachlan.

Art Wear is proudly supported by; NZ Landcare Trust, HRV, Snapshot Cameras, Event Lighting LTD, Classic Hits, Devereux & Villiger, 4 Seasons Home & Leisure and SBI Productions. The 2011 New Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays is now on at Mystery Creek Events Centre, 10 minutes south of Hamilton. Developed by not for profit, the National Fieldays Society; the Fieldays event is proudly supported by strategic partners; ANZ and the University of Waikato.