It is always wonderful to celebrate the success of our local artists, so I thought I’d bring to your attention an exhibition in Nelson’s Suter Art Gallery Te Arotoi o Whakatu, where local Nelson potters will be showcasing their work. Potters whose work will be featured include : Charles Shaw, Katie Gold, Stephen Robertson, Anna Barnett, Royce Mc Glashen, Picton’s own – Sara Schotanus, Owen Barlett, Sue Newitt and Bruce Hamlin.

The opening is Tuesday 1st March at 5.30pm at the McKee Room in the The Suter Art Gallery Bridge Street Nelson and the exhibition will run from 2nd March through until 20th 2011, so do try and go over the hill at some point to support our local potters.  I had the chance whilst visiting Sara’s pottery gallery at Essons Valley yesterday and she has some beautiful pieces to exhibit.

Sara runs pottery workshops regularly so you may wish to contact her for further details.

o3 573 7199.

Hope to see you at the opening.

Tika

Picton is definitely the place to be this weekend. Food,  Wine & Music – good company, all of the best. tika

Whilst meandering and thinking of the  expansive landscapes of mind and ice, I just wanted to draw your attention to White Silence: Grahame Sydney’s Antarctica. This outstanding collection of photographs from one of New Zealand’s most pre-eminent artists pays homage to the Antarctic landscape.

Check out Grahame Sydney’s celebration of the rare flashes of beauty found in the bleakest, most inhospitable region of Earth.

Okay I’d best get back to work,

Tika

Just a quick one today to prompt you to check out our newly launched site for The Portage Resort Hotel, a great venue for your wedding or conference, and a wonderful place to stay either whilst experiencing the Queen Charlotte Track or just to relax whilst on holiday.

The Portage also has three different dining venues, the Te Weka Restaurant, the more casual Snapper Bar and Cafe and The Retro Bar, making it an ideal destination for a romantic evening or weekend break.

The Marlborough Sounds area offers so many activity options, kayaking, mountain biking and walking. Check out Discover Portage and The Portage Adventure Centre for a host of options.

As you probably already know if you read my posts regularly I love art, so I’ll also mention that The Portage Resort  displays the work of senior New Zealand fine artists, offering workshops in painting, printmaking and writing, and offering its exhibiting artists a restorative retreat from the world. The Portage Hotel  lounge library has some wonderful New Zealand art books to peruse either sitting with a glass of wine on the deck in the summer, or snuggling by the fire in the winter.

If you are persuaded do book your Marlborough Sounds Accommodation at The Portage Hotel now.

As for me, I’d best go and feed my hens…..before I get stuck in to some work,

Enjoy your day,

Tika

If you wish to order books, please contact: lisa@nobledesign.co.nz
03 573 5359 / 021 204 8712

ZaoZoo books are printed digitally by Astra Print in Wellington, using papers and inks with the best environmental profile available. Book owners are also asked to pass on their book to others, to increase its lifespan… and also because it’s just a nice thing to do.

Just wanted to let you know that there is an Opening tonight Wednesday December 2nd of an exhibition of one of New Zealand’s most celebrated artists, Marlborough’s own JS Parker at The Diversion Gallery Grove Mill Winery, Renwick (cnr SH63 and Waihopai Valley Road) tonight at 6pm. The Nature of Colour is a wonderful exhibition, well worth attending.

Here are a few words from Director Barbara Speedy to tempt you along:

“ New paintings by Marlborough’s JS Parker, exploring breathtaking fields of colour, layered with rhythm and full of light. These are an exciting new compositional direction, the large single field of colour offering both the challenge and the freedom to explore wonderful rhythms and layers on a substantial scale— this is where John’s skill with colour and texture really sings.

The Nature of Colour also includes two beautiful Rarangi ‘poem paintings’, where John inscribes his own poems in pastel over abstracts of rich colour which capture the light where the Wairau River meets the sea. The major work of this show is a subtly textured abstract reminiscent of the Chordal paintings of the 1980s. Plus we have some delicious small paintings, studies for the ‘colour field’ series. Grove Mill is providing superb new wines for the occasion… and some great specials.

Please join us with the artist, (and visitors from around New Zealand and overseas) for a very uplifting exhibition and our special gallery celebration…”

There will be copies of the new book JS Parker Plain Song by art historian Damian Skinner at the Exhibition, so buy your copy now.

The exhibition will run until January 22 but will be closed Christmas Day – check on other statutory holidays for hours,
tel 03 572 8200.

Enjoy!!

tika

I just wanted to say a huge thank you to Hazel Kirkham, Jodie Smith, Lisa Noble and everyone else involved in Oriel Gallery, the wonderful openings with Gusto nibbles and Seresin wine, the awesome art. It’s a huge loss, Picton and the High Street will have a massive hole, it’s the soul food venue for so many people that wander in, either as travellers just venturing through the door to a beautiful open space or locals who return time and again for a hit of art and Jodie’s smiles.

As an exhibiting artist, I have found Hazel to be thoroughly professional, and impeccable with the care of my art, a friend and advisor, and I hope to continue to work with her on other ventures.

I am not alone in feeling bereft at the very thought of Oriel Gallery closing, there are so many people expressing that same deep feeling , it’s so much more than your average gallery.

How I have loved visiting and viewing so many pieces of art, most especially the Daniel Campion pix and many other delights…I will miss it!

There’s a little time left, the last exhibition, Fired Up runs until the 19th April, with some beautiful glasswork from Nelson artists, Frances Woodhead, Lynette Cain and Angela McAlphine. There are some reductions to prices, so be quick whilst stock lasts! Take the time to visit, it’s well worth it.. I believe the gallery will continue in cyberspace as an online gallery, but will keep you posted…

I’m also away for a while, back to the UK, as my grandmother has died, so it’ll be a while until I blog again..

In the meantime, Picton has so much to offer so check out the events, Hannah Howes, another personal favourite is playing at Le Cafe on 25th April, on her new album release tour, so pop along and buy a copy of Candy… someone remind Mouli he promised he’d get me a copy!!

For now,

Tika xx

Just another fleeting post, this time to remind you that Oriel Gallery will exhibiting Kim Gabara’s sculptures and paintings from 7 to 29 March Wire In The Sand, there’s a preview tomorrow night, Fiday 6 March at 6pm, so pop in and support Picton Art, indulge in some scrumptious nibbles and a glass of Seresin wines.

Daniel Campion’s strong and beautiful new pieces are on exhibition as well, The anatomical and somewhat psychological exploration of an angel(left) and Binary Kingdom of the Divine Digit.

Oriel’s always an exciting place to browse through with frequently changing exhibitions, so do make time in your week – it’s an uplifting experience. Enrich your life and see some art!

Hope to see you there,

Tika

Hey guys,

It’s a while since I’ve managed to catch up with you, so I hope you are all thriving and enjoying the wonderful winter weather and the glorious colours, such sun, we are so blessed.

I just wanted to let you know that, as of  tomorrow, 5th June 2008, there is a wonderful exhibition of donated art work, at Mahi Wine on Terrace Road Renwick in Marlborough, which is definitely worth visiting. Artists such as JS Parker, Llew Summers, Bridget Bidwill, Fran Maguire and many others have donated artworks to raise money for the Jenny Doole-Leo Tertiary Education Fund. The Charity Art Auction is under way, so if you wish to make a bid, either go online and view the work, at  www.jennyauction.co.nz  or visit the Mahi Winery and place your bid there.

The highest bid at noon on 1 August, 2008 will be the successful owner of each respective artwork. The current bids are reflected on the website, and are updated regularly.

Marlborough artist Jenny Doole-Leo, who died of cancer recently, touched many with her work, her teaching and her generosity.
Jenny, her sculptor husband Iosefa and their two daughters Luisa and Sina are a highly respected family in the Marlborough art community and beyond. As news of Jenny’s illness spread, people asked how they could help and so the idea of an auction to raise funds for the girls’ tertiary education was born. The exhibition at Mahi Wine and the online auction are the result.

Do go along and have a look.

What are your plans for Easter? Catching up with family, getting into the garden, seeing some art?
Well Marlborough has a fine selection of art on offer. Barbara Speedy, the director of The Diversion Gallery and MVH Gallery sent me through the following:

"We have some excellent Easter viewing at The Diversion Gallery at Grove Mill Winery 

Including a stunning new oil painting by JS Parker – All Blues – which is just about impossible to capture accurately by photograph as the contrasting blues play tricks on the camera – or maybe they play tricks on the eye in the way the Blues play tricks on the ear!

There are warm accents and echoes above, the intense field of blues which is like looking into stained glass or deep water, icy echoes below and a fantastic rhythm and balance in this painting. It’s a substantial work at 1.5m x 1.2m, oil on canvas, and just draws you in.

This work has only just come into the show, as the large Smither painting has been released early from the group exhibition, giving us space and opportunity to exhibit a Parker that needs to be seen! We also have a change in some of the exhibited works by Richard Adams, alongside a selection of fine paintings by Don Peebles and Don Binney, and a sublime Taranaki screenprint from Michael Smither , plus Graham Bennett’s superb stainless steel sculpture in the vineyard.

The gallery will be open today, Saturday, Sunday and Easter Monday from 11am to 5pm; closed Good Friday. Come and enjoy the art with some fine Grove Mill vintages ( the new Pinot Noir is sublime with chocolate but my current favourite is the elegant Gewurztraminer dessert wine ). Just a couple of km down SH63 from Renwick, we’re on the left."

Marlborough Art Society’s Autumn Exhibition, showcasing new work from Art Society members, is also on until 30th March, if you are through in Blenheim en route to Diversion and of course, if you prefer to come through to Picton , Oriel Gallery’s light and airy gallery is well worth a visit for Val Griffith-Jones Exhibition Are You Sitting Comfortably?"

(see my last post)

So have a wonderful Easter, all be it totally out of whack with the season, Easter being symbolic of resurrection and spring, and here in the southern hemisphere autumn’s heavy morning dews, darker mornings and earlier nights are already here, but take some time out and enjoy whatever you choose to do.

For now, I’m off to have my morning muesli, before getting stuck into work,

Tika

P.S I haven’t forgotten, I promised to tell you about our wonderful Blue Water Lodge trip.