It's only a few weeks old, but already the Dunedin Public Art Gallery exhibition "Beloved" must take top honours for the best exhibition of 2009.
The stunning show gives a sneak peek of the golden treasures which lie within the gallery in the heart of the city.
Here are a few favourites of the year from local artists, curators and gallery owners.
Natalie Poland (Hocken Gallery curator)
Best show: "'Paintbox Pioneers' at the Otago Settlers Museum, because it is refreshing to see historical art on display. It showcased the strength of that institution's collection".
Favourite work: "The series of photographs Heather Straka created for her show 'Do Not Resuscitate' at the Blue Oyster.
It is always great to see an artist break with their normal practice - in Heather's case, oil painting - and try a new approach."Artists who impressed: Kushana Bush, Heather Straka and Joanna Langford.
Biggest disappointment: "That I didn't get to see more exhibitions."
Hope for 2010: "That I see more exhibitions."
Best show: "'Beloved', because it's overdue. A great catch-up on works acquired since 1990 and has some good stuff out of the store for the first time in a long time."
Favourite work: "Ben Webb's Angela Bonadies, because it's poignant, painful, beautiful as trampled flowers."
Artists who impressed: "Ben Webb - an 'own' artist admittedly, since I curated his show. But I have to say it.
And Heather Straka, on account of lots of works in different shows not forgetting the one at the Hocken earlier this year."
Biggest disappointment: "The loss of five permanent positions from the Art School."
Hope for 2010: "That our civic leaders take up issues like the one above, with some recognition of the importance of the school to the city beyond its immediate impact on the art scene."
Elizabeth Caldwell (Dunedin Public Art Gallery director)
Favourite work: White Suit by South American artist Miguel Angel Rios.
Artist who impressed: "Julian Dashper, who died at the age of 49 in July this year. He was an artist of tremendous talent and intelligence and a person of great humour and generosity. He will be sorely missed."
Biggest disappointment: "Not having enough time to see more art."
Hope for 2010: "A mysterious benefactor comes forward and donates a large amount of money to the gallery to establish a foundation to buy works for the collection."
Ewan McDougall (artist)
Best exhibitions: "Tom Kreisler at the DPAG. A master of found materials and dark wit and loose, nutty drawing.
And "Mermaids" by Ivan Hill at Gallery De Novo. Beautiful, whimsical."
Favourite work: "Chris Meder's iron sculpture of a Dinornis Moa at the Ironic Restaurant."
Biggest disappointment: "There's a few, but it's better that people are creating something, rather than selling crack to schoolchildren."
Hope for 2010: "That Dunedin has a no-holds-barred, bloody awesome arts festival in October."
Stephen Higginson (Milford Galleries)
"Garry Currin's This Distance. An utterly memorable painting involving a most unusual palette and dialogues about the end of civilisation."
Artists who impressed: "Fiona Pardington, Ann Robinson and Daniel Crooks."
Biggest disappointment: "The fear everybody had that calamity would be calling upon them personally soon."
Hope for 2010: "A resurgent DPAG."
Michelle Chalkin-Sinclair (The Artist's Room)
"'Nocturne', featuring the sculptures of Helen Back and paintings by Donna Demente and Sue Syme. Another show that stood out for me was 'Feminine Palette', with Sheryl McCammon, Maria Kemp and Jan Ingram. The ladies had it his year."
Favourite work: "The Ancient Gallery, by Alan Ibell. I liked it so much I had to buy it."
Artists who impressed: "Michel Tuffery, Kushana Bush, Alan Ibell, Heather Straka, Sam Foley, Olav Nielsen, Matt Gauldie, Helen Back and the amazing Colin Wheeler."
Biggest disappointment: "Mmmm . . . to be honest, no real disappointments here."
Hope for 2010: "I hope Dunedin continues to be seen as the 'art hub' of New Zealand and that more of our talented local artists receive nationwide recognition." Steev Peyroux (artist)
"Jason Grieg's impromptu retrospective. Full of latent energy and emotion and graphic exploration."
Favourite work: "Full Continental Extension by Kushana Bush. For the way she isolates the details of life and composes such magical, playful patterning from them."
Artist who impressed: "Kathryn Madill. For the dark depths and conviction of her expression."
Biggest disappointment: "Negative publicity for the Dunedin School of Art when, in fact, it is as full of creative energy and interaction as it has ever been."
Hope for 2010: "For the Government to pump more money into education for the sake of enquiry, knowledge and creativity and not only for rational economic outcomes."
Victoria Duncan (Temple Gallery)
"'I have you at the throat by your beauty', Ben Webb at the Temple. First exhibition by this artist in Dunedin for 10 years. A cohesive survey of work from Ben's time in Berlin."
Favourite works: "Repeat after me . . . Amanda#2 by Heather Straka and Vermilion Orange by Ralph Hotere. The experience of looking at both these works is transformative."
Artist who impressed: "'An arty looking student in his mid 20s'. Anything that keeps art on the front page of the ODT for a week and makes the national media has to impress."
Biggest disappointment of 2009: "The continued failure by Creative New Zealand to provide adequate funding for Otago artists."
Hopes for 2010: "More of the great art we've seen this year."
Richelle Byers (Gallery De Novo)
"Shane Hansen's 'Me' show at Gallery De Novo. Shane's ability to fuse Pacific design and icons with kiwiana creates stunning, fun and strong New Zealand pieces we can all identify with."
Favourite work: "Frank Gordon's Logo Causes a Panic in the Dog Park. This is classic Frank Gordon humour and skill at its best."
Artist who impressed: "Michael Hight. His last show at Milford Gallery was superb. It is not only his detail that is impressive, but light, atmosphere, composition, everything."
Biggest disappointment: "That Chris Meder's eye-catching gorilla sculpture on display during Otago University art week didn't become a permanent fixture. It was great to see a local sculpture in such a prominent public position."
Hopes for 2010: "That more local and New Zealand art work makes their way into the overseas market."
Jaenine Parkinson (Blue Oyster Project Art Space)
"Markus Hofko's 'Islands. You and Me. A Second and a Lifetime' for the way these floating islands appealed to all age-groups."
Favourite work: "Sylvia Schwenk's X Performance in Dunedin, which provoked the general public to see their environment differently."
Artist who impressed: "Heather Straka's 'Do Not Resuscitate'. A well-known painter working outside of her comfort zone to produce striking photographs."
Biggest disappointment: "Removal of anonymous artworks in public places".
Hope for 2010: "For more critical art writing from Dunedin."
Anita De Soto (Artist and art lecturer)
Best show: "'I was Russia' at DPAG. I was fascinated by this visiting show because of its uncompromising and provocative content."
Artist who impressed: "Charlotte Paralie, for being true to herself and dedicated to her concept. Charlotte uses household plumbing and pink textiles and petite arts to reference human anatomy and gender issues."
Biggest disappointment: "The Dunedin City Council and its lack of support for our internationally-recognised arts culture and its preference for funding rugby."
Hope for 2010: "To bring back inspiration from Europe for my next show here."
John Bellamy (Bellamy's Gallery)
Best show: "Tom Kriesler at the DPAG. I came away feeling that I had seen something quite uniquely different."
Favourite work: "That crazy nuts-and-bolty-engine-parted-cog-and gear-gorilla perched rampant on top of an old Vanguard rustbucket sedan at 'Site'."
Artist who impressed: "Jim Cooper. As an artist who really has a grasp of making clay speak to us in an entirely different language. His works range from the ecstatic to the sublime."
Biggest disappointment: "The absolutely appalling loss to the greater Dunedin community, all at the same time, of the Community Gallery, the Regent Theatre and the Town Hall to artists, craftspeople, musicians and performers. Sheesh! What an absolute shambles."
Hope for 2010: "A continuing growth in appreciation of the fantastic art and art venues that we have here in this wonderful city of Dunedin."
