Hi everyone!

I still have my small collection of paintings on display at Dunedin Airport for June and the beginning of July. I chose larger works, mainly landscapes, as they make a stronger impact and help fill the vast space. I have already received some lovely feedback and am very grateful for the opportunity to show my work to so many people. Altogether, I have eight works on display across four walls around the terminal.

This year has been a year of new endeavours, challenges, and firsts for me. For the first time, I entered an overseas award, The Salon Art Prize for the month of April, and received an award in the Landscape category for my painting Lewis Pass Beech Forest. Along with a certificate, I received prize money that covered the cost of my entry. More importantly, this recognition makes me eligible for the grand prize at the end of March next year, as well as a feature in the magazine. The most exciting part, however, is exhibiting alongside artists who have been my idols for quite some time.

Other first-time endeavours this year included entering the NZ Contemporary Art Calendar, applying for a fellowship, submitting work to the Adams Portraiture Awards, and participating in the New Zealand Paint and Printmaking Awards. Not all of these opportunities were successful, but it is always worthwhile trying new things and seeing where they might lead.

With my other job as a teacher, along with the paperwork and organisation involved in various exhibitions, the one thing I have not done much of this year is painting. I am just about to finish my first landscape of the year, which will be entered into the Ashburton Annual Exhibition. I am also hoping to complete another painting for the upcoming Annual Exhibition for the Otago Art Society’s 150th anniversary.

I was hoping to have an open studio in June sometime but it might have to wait a little. If you are keen to visit, however, you can flick me an email from my contact site (website: http://www.sarahfreiburger.com) and arrange a time to come by. I won’t have many paintings on display in June, though, as they are all out on show.

Thanks for reading my newsletter.