Arguably the most popular Molly Morpeth Canaday Award, the results are in for this year’s People Choice award. 

Wellington artist Eric Desiles has captured the imaginations and hearts of visitors to the 2022 exhibition with his stunning piece, Poetry in Motion. 

The piece, bronze on a turning granite base, depicts two graceful acrobats and captures split seconds of motion and emotion.

Mr Desiles was inspired by his intimate knowledge of bodies in motion from his career as a circus performer and an acrobat to create the timeless figures.

The $500 award, co-sponsored by The Honourable Anne Tolley and Whakatāne Arts Society, is decided by popular vote by those who have viewed the Molly Morpeth Canady 3D exhibition over the past few weeks.

Both Mrs Tolley and the Whakatāne Arts Society have been long-time supporters of the People’s Choice Award and congratulate Mr Desiles on his win.

Whakatāne Arts Society representative Robyn Watchorn says as an artist, she has always felt the People’s Choice Award was the most special of the MMCA accolades.

“It must be lovely to win the prestige award, but how magical to know all of the visitors, everyone in the community, chose your work as their favourite,” says Robyn.

The Molly Morpeth Canady Award, presented by Arts Whakatāne and Whakatāne District Council are one of New Zealand’s longest running and most vibrant contemporary art awards.