MML Retrospective
The Mortlock McCormack Law Art Award was established in 2003 by the Christchurch firm, Mortlock McCormack Law (MML). It is presented annually to a third-year School of Art & Design student at CPIT.
The winning work, judged by MML, and the director of COCA is acquired for the MMLcollection.
MML created the awards ceremony to work with and encourage young people within the community and to forge an ongoing relationship with CPIT and the community, and to grow their own corporate art collection.
This year MML wanted to open the doors as it were, and share some of the gems from that collection with the public. This retrospective also includes a special focus on 2006 MML award winner, Sam Harrison.
Harrison graduated from CPIT, Bachelor of Visual Arts, in 2006 and in the same year he won both the Mortlock McCormack Law Award and the Farina Thompson Drawing Award. He also had one of his works purchased for the CPIT William Cumming Memorial Collection. Sam had his first solo exhibition at COCA in 2007, has had two solo shows since and is now represented by a leading Auckland art dealer.
“Sam Harrison is an exceptional talent. He’s a consummate craftsman across several mediums and while I think he would have been a successful artist regardless, the award has definitely been helpful to him. It’s a great affirmation for any artist at the start of their career,” says Warren Feeney, recently retired director of COCA.
Feeney considers the Award is an ideal chance for students to get their work out into the public for the first time and he is impressed by the calibre of winning works.
The winning work, judged by MML, and the director of COCA is acquired for the MMLcollection.
MML created the awards ceremony to work with and encourage young people within the community and to forge an ongoing relationship with CPIT and the community, and to grow their own corporate art collection.
This year MML wanted to open the doors as it were, and share some of the gems from that collection with the public. This retrospective also includes a special focus on 2006 MML award winner, Sam Harrison.
Harrison graduated from CPIT, Bachelor of Visual Arts, in 2006 and in the same year he won both the Mortlock McCormack Law Award and the Farina Thompson Drawing Award. He also had one of his works purchased for the CPIT William Cumming Memorial Collection. Sam had his first solo exhibition at COCA in 2007, has had two solo shows since and is now represented by a leading Auckland art dealer.
“Sam Harrison is an exceptional talent. He’s a consummate craftsman across several mediums and while I think he would have been a successful artist regardless, the award has definitely been helpful to him. It’s a great affirmation for any artist at the start of their career,” says Warren Feeney, recently retired director of COCA.
Feeney considers the Award is an ideal chance for students to get their work out into the public for the first time and he is impressed by the calibre of winning works.