The Top Floor, 10th August–4th September 2010

This exhibition will feature the work of nine talented illustrators at the beginning of their careers. It is designed to emphasise the educational aspect of Te Tai Tamariki and the planning and preparation of a picture book will be a major feature. It is proposed that at least half of the work on display will consist of preparatory drawings and roughs.

The 6 finalists of the inaugural Storylines Gavin Bishop Award have been invited to exhibit the work they submitted for the award. One of them is already working on her first book for Random House and several others have been asked to submit a folio of work to publishers on the strength of their work being seen at the Margaret Mahy Day held in March in Auckland this year when the award was presented. Exhibiting with the finalists will be three illustrators who have already made a mark for themselves - Rachel Driscoll, illustrator for the NZ Post Book of the Year 2010, Brian Lovelock, illustrator for the NZ Post Picture Book of the Year 2009 and Sarah Anderson.

Illustrators exhibiting in the show:

Sarah Anderson
Brian Lovelock
Rachel Driscoll
Harriet Bailey
Stephanie Junovich
Neroli Williams
Sara Acton
Heather Arnold
Gary Venn

Te Tai Tamariki, the national centre of New Zealand Children's Literature was established in Christchurch in 2006. It brings children, writers and illustrators together in a unique environment of creativity, literature and art. Te Tai Tamariki collects and preserves historical and contemporary works, including pre-publication artists' roughs and reference material. It supports a comprehensive education programme with seminars, exhibitions, research facilities and writing and illustration workshops for
all ages. Exhibitions of original book art are curated and exhibited nationally.