The exhibition is open and looking stunning. The quality and innovation of the work this year from practitioners throughout Aotearoa is at another level.  Lynn Taylor and Gillian Saunders our guest judges brought their wealth of experience in fibre and textile to to assist long time judge Ronnie Martin (Creative Director) in selecting some worthy award winners. It was a treat to host you both at Refinery ArtSpace and for you to share your perspective with us. Arts Council are very proud to have presented this award for the last 13 years.We were very fortunate to still have had an opening albeit a pared back preview for sponsors, artists and their families.  Come and support the exceptional mahi of this group of textile and fibre practitioners. 

 In his 1947 manifesto, French artist and curator Jean Dubuffet described the term art brut (Raw Art) as follows: "We understand by this term works produced by persons unscathed by artistic culture, where mimicry plays little or no part (contrary to the activities of intellectuals). These artists derive everything...from their own depths, and not from the conventions of classical or fashionable art."

​'Raw 22 - Work outside the edge' has been a fabulous exhibition featuring work created by people from around the country who have no formal or traditional art training with expressions of  individuality and inventiveness that are ‘Raw’ and uncooked by cultural and artistic influences.

We would like to thank all of the all of the artists from around Aotearoa who submitted work. A special thanks also go out to the arts access studios Kapiti Art Studio, The White Room, Community Art Works, Magenta Art Space, and WestREAP for the outstanding work that they do for our creative communities. 

Participating artists (no particular order):

Diane Brand, Sara Brown, Rex Bennet, Erin Coleman, Tamzin Hine, Sophie, Jim Alley, Paul Healy, Chrissy Taylor, Ken Ruffell,Christian Martin, Akanksha Kargwal, Shashini Weerakoon, Evon Ashoka Silva, Caitlyn Bloomfield, Julia Holden, Christine Cameron Holland, Paula Lister, Jayden Munsey, Lucia Zuniga Caceres, Susanne Williamson, Wendy Rutledge, Peter Quayle, Edward Hoffman, Kan Koon, Nathan Wilson, Stacey Menzies, EIK NOS, Gaelynne Pound, Kate Cornwall, Oscar Porter, George Smeaton, Francie Heathfield, Phil Sigglekow, Debbie Holland, Amrit Kaur, Samantha Allen, Jessie Macaw, Andrea Monds, Judi Trompetter, Mathew Nordberg, Marina McPherson, Aramoana du Feu, Leanna Brown, Anna McCarthy, Chris McFarlane, Graham Adams, Gary Buchanan, Darren Dawson, Virginia Fowler, Kayla Hood, Neville Shapcott, Billy Gargett, Rachael Ward, Andrius Kilgour, Mark Lewis, Lianne Murphy, Karolina Serrano Paton, Philips Eberlein, Jean Guile,Donna Hunt, Janine Neville, Jo Jago, Michael Taylor, Isaac Tait, Dennis Kepa, Francesca Marmi, Gabrielle Ashdown, Bevan Dick, Christine, Dorothea Shireman, Charlotte Turner, Erena Wylie, John Jensen, Claire Hargreaves, Lauchau, Grace Alexander, Fonda Griffith, Chrissy Taylor, Melissa Barret, Kerry Callaghan, Robbie McManaway, Lorraine Keely, Rick Allender and Sebastian Crow