Current and upcoming exhibitions
Inspirit Winter Collection- 11 August-15 September 2010
Featuring new work by Joan Fear, Santie English & Rachel Olsen. Contemporary furniture by Robin Cuff. Ceramic work By Helen Frost. Flax baskets by Rob Kear. Recycled glass by Mike Barton. Recycled metal art by Chris Meek. Vintage tea robes
by Ginger. Boutique garments by Christine Rabarts and Shikoba.
Three Birds and a Feather
Multi Media Exhibition at Inspirit Gallery, October 1 - 24
What happens when you get three Waikato women artists together to exhibit their current work?
A lot of laughs!
Artists Santie English a symbolist painter from Cambridge, Clare Wimmer Raglan potter and Hamilton based fashion designer Ciane Lawrey, have pulled together to explore an ornithological theme with an impish wink.
These talented local women have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity of working together on Three Birds and a Feather. Universal to these women has been the communication of thought-provoking ideas coupled with the ability to have a jolly good laugh.
The artists have tackled serious ideas such as personal identity, finding your place in the world, birth, tradition, and what constitutes the image of authority, all with their tongues placed firmly in cheek.
Mischievous and delightful, the variety of mediums and personal reflection has created a captivating exhibition that all ages and tastes will enjoy.
Pictured L-R: Artists Santie English symbolist painter from Cambridge, Clare Wimmer Raglan potter and Hamilton based fashion designer Ciane Lawrey. Artists are cradling porcelain egg shaped eggcups by Clare Wimmer and wearing capes by designer Ciane Lawrey.
The background is from ‘When all you Feel is Light' a painting by Santie English.
Endangered group selected show October 29-21 November 2010
I Am Nature - Hear Me Roar
It arises out of the lush, green Waikato lowlands as an ecological time capsule - protecting and bringing forward what is most precious from the past to be cherished and carried forward for those generations yet to be born.
Now, in a unique flowering of environmentalism and art creativity, comes an art exhibition with a difference - a project to further the work of Waikato's Maungatuatari Ecological Island.
Opening on October 29, Hamilton's Inspirit art gallery has drawn together the top artists of this region to give expression to the deep green ethos they've found at Maungatuatari.
The art exhibition, called Endangered, will feature leading local and national artists in a diverse variety of mediums with artwork inspired by New Zealand's endangered species.
Artists like Joan Fear were quick to offer their support for the Endangered exhibition and many of the artists involved made special visits to Maungatuatari to get to the heart of what makes this place so special and inspiring.
On visits they encountered noisy kaka, kakariki, takahe and hihi on the tracks as well as fantail, tui and keruru. Ancient native trees provide shelter and food for the many species of birds that thrive at Maungatuatari.
Ecologist Chris Smuts-Kennedy will open the exhibition at the preview on Friday October 29 at 5:30pm. A silent auction with all sale proceeds donated to Maungatuatari will be held on the night alongside the main exhibition.
Inspirit will be transformed inside and out for the exhibition with works including:
• A large metal moa sculpture by Marti Wong
• Engraved marble egg by Jocelyn Pratt
• Fairy Tern mobile by Nick Dryden
• Heron & Godwit sculptures by Bruce Young
• Sculpture by Anna Korver & Rob Kear
• Kakapo, kaka and takahe paintings by Joan Fear, Santie English
Ann Gray, Rachel Olsen, Jane Galloway, Airdrie Hamilton,
Renata Pryznoga-Cousins
• Wearable art by Ginger, Shikoba,Christine Rabart
• Cast glass by Colleen Ryan-Priest & Di Tocker
• Printmaking by Kate Hill, Sue Roots and Robin Cuff
• Falling leaf chair by Robin Cuff & wood sculpture by Peter Radley
• Photography by Phil Brown - an unsung hero of Maungatautari
• Mixed media works of the native Kokopu (trout) by Cameron Suisted
• Ceramics by Ian Webster, Clare Wimmer, Mike Cogswell & Helen Frost
• Fibre art by Dianne Dudfield & Jane Siddall
• Mosaic by Justine Martin
Background
The birth of the first takahe chick was an outstanding conservation success for Maungatautari Ecological Island earlier this year and provided Inspirit gallery owner Jenny Scown to create the Endangered exhibition.
Maungatautari began with a dream in 2002 to protect diversity of plant and animal species living on a 3400 hectare forested ancient volcano rising above the Waikato lowlands.
Along with local iwi, many in the community have an emotional connection with the mountain and have been spurred into action to protect it. Some 47 km of pest proof fencing have been built around the perimeter of the ecological island with both the fence and the forest being maintained by volunteers who freely give their time to support of this unique place.
Endangered exhibition October 29 to November 21 2010
Inspirit Gallery - Tamahere, Hamilton
www.inspirit.co.nz
For further information, photographs or an invite to the opening night please contact:
Jenny Scown on 07 856 317 or 0274 386 416 or email jenny@inspirit.co.nz