|
For visitors
For artists General info |
Past Exhibitions16 December 2011-15 January 2012CarnivalThis exhibition celebrates the ‘Carnival’ festival with a focus on the history of the Riverton Carnival which ran for over four decades from Boxing Day until the end of the first week in January. Photographs and memorabilia as well as recollections from top performers Suzanne Prentice and Ray Columbus and beauty pageant contestants celebrate the Carnival’s heyday. Carnival typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party. The Guest Artist is Helen Back who lives and works in Bluff. The work she is showing reflects the memories she has of carnivals she visited as a child – dark, full of magic and mystery, fragmented images of light and colour.  18 November-11 December 2011Aparima College Art Exhibition and Banners   This exhibition, 'Sight can be Dangerous', showcased NCEA students’ photography during the year. The banners this year celebrate Riverton’s 175 year anniversary, depicting ‘Continuity and Change’ using photos and mixed media (historic photos from the Museum are being used). The students have studied them and taken photographs from the same angles showing any changes that have taken place from then till now. DISCARDEDKere Menzies, Lynn Grace   Featuring: Kere Menzies – sculpture and carvings with Lynn Grace paintings. Kere Menzies likens his artistic ability to a herbal teabag saying that something needs to drop into his head and percolate a while before the final result can be created. Working with Oamaru Stone and timber he creates inspiring pieces that nod towards the historical and often include his Maori heritage. He also uses recycled pieces that are transformed and given new life. Kere has exhibited in Riverton, Te Anau and Queenstown.   Lynn Grace is an emerging artist that has a passion for paintings that invoke feeling and mood. She particularly enjoys working with a play of colours that become subtle or are intensified with lighting. In many of her paintings you will see familiar scenes and places as many are inspired by local places, people and history. Lynn was born in Wyndham in 1969 and has been absorbed in art all her life, stimulated by the
talents of her mother and grandfather. TALES OF SAILS - Fergus Sutherland Fergus introduces art inspired by the book 'Catlins Bound'. Written by Mike McPhee, 'Catlins Bound' tells stories of the sailing ships built by his great-grandfather. The artworks provide moody glimpses of these rugged little ships in the seas and harbours of Southern New Zealand in the 1800's. Early New Zealand Colonial Art  Lawrence William Wilson, Mt Pembroke Riverton Arts Centre is pleased to bring you this collection of Early New Zealand Colonial Artworks featuring distinguished New Zealand artists such as: Rita Angus, Doris Lusk, Peter McIntyre, Olivia Spencer-Bower, Sydney Lough Thompson and many more. NEON ZEALAND    Ewan McDougall and ‘Neon Zealand’, a first for The Riverton Arts Centre, promises a vibrant and humorous visual symphony that will truly engage and enchant the audience. Ewan McDougall was born in Wellington, New Zealand. His family later moved to Oamaru where he was educated at Waitaki Boys High School and taught painting by North Otago regionalist painter Colin Wheeler. Ewan attended Otago University while also working in freezing works and drumming in Rock bands. He gained an honours degree in Political Studies in 1971. He worked at Otago University as a junior lecturer and tutor before leaving to travel overseas. Over the ensuing decade Ewan traveled extensively, working in mining, in pubs and on oilrigs. In the early 1980’s he returned to New Zealand with his partner, writer Sarah McDougall. In 1988 he was referred to Queen Mary Hospital at Hanmer Springs for treatment for addiction and while there he began to paint again. He has subsequently developed a vibrant signature style. His witty, outrageous works are inhabited by a wealth of personal references to his often volatile life. McDougall has had sixty solo exhibitions in some prominent New Zealand dealer galleries and numerous group exhibitions as well as exhibiting internationally. In 1994 he exhibited in two group exhibitions in Penzance and St Just in Cornwall, UK. In 2003 Ewan showed in Southern Heat in the Dunedin Public Art Gallery. He exhibited in the Sydney Art Show with Gallery 2021 in 2004. McDougall exhibited in London in 2005 with the prestigious West End gallery The Rebecca Hossack Gallery as well as participating in ‘Art London-the Chelsea Art Show’, The London Art Fair and the London Raw Arts Festival. Later the same year he exhibited with three other international painters at Arte Immagini Gallery in Cremona City, Italy. In 2006 he showed in the Spanish Raw Arts Festival at Color Elefante Gallery in Valencia, Spain. And in July 2008, Hard Out, Ewan’s twenty year survey exhibition opens at Dunedin’s Temple Gallery prior to touring South Island galleries. The painter is an nine-time finalist in the James Wallace Art Awards, a finalist in the Norsewear Art Awards and a prize-winner in the Mainland and Cleveland Awards. He was a finalist in the Park Lane Art Awards in 2006 and in 2007 he was a finalist in the CoCA/Anthony Harper art awards in Christchurch. He was a finalist also in The New Zealand Portrait Gallery /Adam Portraiture Awards in 2006 and 2008. His portraits were selected as part of the touring exhibitions on both occasions. He has works in a number of Public Collections including: The Forrester Gallery, The Aigantighe Gallery,The University of Otago Auckland Centre Collection, the Dunedin Public Hospital Collection and The Centre of Contemporary Art Collection. Artist Statement: I am an Expressionist painter. I rarely plan a painting or do preparatory drawing. I commence the work with a quick wash of strong, primary colour and then begin to hurriedly paint figures-people, animals and hybrid creatures. I add crude marks for volcanoes, hills, sea, buildings, boats, clouds, sun and moon, working with vibrant impasto. The painting forms, and informs me as to what it is. The last stroke is always the title. Above all I prize spontaneity, colour and a good dose of irony. I love being a painter. WORKS ON PAPER EXHIBITION  Please join us for drinks and nibbles at 7pm, Friday 8 April to officially open our 'Works on Paper' Exhibition. This exhibition celebrates the resurgence in popularity of works on paper. The accepted definition of works on paper includes watercolours, inks, pencil and charcoal, mixed media, artist’s books and original prints eg etchings, lithographs etc. All artworks will be available for purchase during the exhibition. Entry is free of charge and will feature artwork from Printmakers Wanaka - Olwyn Pezaro, Donald Peterson, Anne Tompkins, Rae-Ann Sinclair, Marjorie Stephenson and Sue Deason Robertson, alongside Kim Lowe, John Husband, Katy Buess, Jackie Jones, Patricia Payne, Saoirse Chapman, Lisa Grace and Isabel Bird. STRANDED!    Stranded is an exhibition of engravings and prints that commemorates the landing of a gang of sealers on the Open Bay Islands 200 years ago. The Open Bay Islands lie 4.4km off the western shore of the South Island of New Zealand at Latitude 43o 52 minutes south and longitude 168o 53 minutes east. They are small and scrubby covered with a thick covering of a dense kiekie. They lie low to the horizon viewed from the Haast coastline. In 1809 the south west coast of New Zealand was a lonely place with few visitors. The Open Bay Islands lie to the north of the more frequented sealing grounds of Fiordland. For this reason, the islands were known for their seal colony, but ships seldom visited. The exhibition tells the story of the sealers and the harsh environment they found themselves in after their supply ship failed to return. The gang of ten men, recruited out of Port Jackson were left in January 1810 with enough provisions to last until their ship returned. In December 1813 The Sydney Gazette listed their return to Sydney on the schooner Governor Bligh. In an extended column the reporter recounted their tale. For the men of the Active gang surviving for nearly four years involved enduring extreme hardship and hunger. The islands and the nearby coastline provided a paucity of food and comfort. The only thing in plenty was the seal meat, in season. The men returned with a haul of 8000 cured seal skins that they had cared for over the four years they were on the islands. In their first year on the island they had cured 10, 000 skins and were then able to retain 8000 in a saleable state. In fact, the men had resorted to wearing the sealskins when their own clothing rotted away. A sea shanty narrating the stranding appeared shortly thereafter. It is the basis for a series of small engravings, one for each verse of the tale recounted in the voice of David Lowrieston, the leader of the gang. Other works in the show seek to capture the sense of the stranding and use text from the contemporary accounts along with drawings and images to evoke the men and their ordeal. South Westland has rich past and the tale of the Open Bay sealers is the first example of those who have struggled to survive in a challenging environment. Earth, Sea, Sky & Light    Karen Bickley, is the Earth aspect of this exhibiton. She is a well-known Potter and Rivertonian has been involved with clay since the age of 16. Basically self-taught, she has attended various workshops and summer school and in 1993 won the pottery award at Arrowtown Autumn Festival. These pieces are her new works that are influenced and inspired by food presentation. Wayne of the Hill, Riverton artist and sculptor, has produced exciting new works specifically for this exhibition and there is also a piece of sculpture being raffled to raise funds for resource consent to have ongoing art in our estuary. Jeremy Pierce’s photography portrays the sky and water aspects of the exhibition. A commercial photographer, Jeremy has been taking photos for about 15 years, and this is his first galleried exhibition. Hannah McCrostie’s work entitled ‘Urban Narrative’ is an interplay of light, shadows and the extremes of contrast. Night photography allows Hannah to explore and connect to a world that isn’t always present within our daily lives. RAINBOW CONNEXION  Featuring Southland artists: Joan Hall-Jones, Isobel Bates, Bex Pilley, Rob Smith, Jane McCulla, Trish Cuttriss, Dawn Malloy, Errolyn Tane, Jan Gibb and Wallace Keown. These artists have combined to bring you a 'Rainbow Connexion' of artworks in varying mediums. From fibre art to metal craft, pottery and paintings, all artworks will be available for purchase and on display until Sunday 30 January at 4pm. RIVERTON ARTS CENTRE 10TH BIRTHDAY EXHIBITION     The Riverton Arts Centre would like to extend an invitation to the Riverton Community, Artists and friends of The Arts Centre to join us in celebrating our 10th birthday, beginning at 7pm, Saturday 4 December 2010. The exhibition and birthday event will be officially opened by Southland District Mayor Frano Cardno and guest speakers include John Husband, Alana Reid and Angela Newell. Kacey Black of Riverton will provide the entertainment. Also over the past year the Committee have been busy producing a commemorative booklet which will be launched at the opening and available for purchase. Tickets for opening night are available from the Arts Centre at $5 per person. Over the past decade the Arts Centre has been the hub of creativity in Riverton with performance, musical and visual delights that have enhanced the lives of many. For the exhibition we have invited approximately 35 artists who have chosen what they would like to display and what best reflects them as a visual artist. Included are: Ewan McDougall, Patricia Payne, Maurice Middleditch, John Wishart, Kim Lowe, Janet de Wagt, Dawn Barry, Karen Pringle, Mark Sharma, Rachel Hirabayashi, DEOW VS GORSE and many more. Our hours during the exhibition are: Wednesday through Sunday 12noon-4pm. Riverton Arts Centre and Aparima College Present:       Please join the Aparima College Year 10 students for the exhibition opening and awards announcement on Tuesday 30 November at 12.40pm. Year 10 students have been creating street banners to beautify Palmerston Street over the festive season with this year's focus on Community Groups in Riverton. Our hours during the exhibition are 12-4pm Tuesday 30th, Wednesday 1st and Thursday 2nd. GWEN HENDERSON (Burt Munro's Daughter)    It is 2010, and the Riverton Community Arts Centre is in its tenth year of operation. At this time we have an incredibly unique opportunity as a community and Arts Centre to host Southland icon Burt Munro’s daughter’s, inaugural art exhibition here in Riverton. Gwen Henderson is not only the daughter of world famous land speed legend, Burt Munro, but an original abstract artist in her own right. This November, Gwen travelled down from Whangarei specifically for her exhibition entitled ‘The Black Line and Other’, we have managed to coordinate this exhibition with The Burt Munro Challenge weekend. Southland born Henderson (nee Munro) went to St. George School and Southland Girls High. As a child she liked to draw streamlined shapes, mainly cars, but didn’t do any artwork while working, gardening and raising a family. Her continuing interest and study in botany and horticulture gave her the urge to paint plants and in the 1980’s she started, untutored in watercolours. In time Gwen became interested in painting with acrylic and produced work in a variety of subject matter. She visited a great number of art museums in the Netherlands, France, Italy, Germany, London and Australia and became more interested in Modern Art and Abstraction, which to Gwen is more cerebral as opposed to Realism and “No matter how beautifully executed, is a form of copying”. As a member of the Northland Society of Arts since moving from Auckland, Gwen has been painting with an untutored group ‘The Wednesday Painters’ and since early this year has also shared a space on Tuesday’s with four others of similar interest – ‘The Party House Painters’. “I would love to paint full-time but still have a large garden, home, husband and dog in the equation”. Because Gwen’s exhibition coincided with the Burt Munro Challenge event, she has produced some works relating to speed and the idea of her Father’s feats on the salt flats and a couple of realistic sunsets at Oreti Beach where he raced so often. A small watercolour of a bay on Stewart Island is also included in the exhibition. Gwen has fond memories of blissful holidays at Riverton Rocks, so “Where better to exhibit some of my work, and at 80 years young I have a forceful need to keep painting”. Janet de Wagt - Birdseye View   Riverton Arts Centre is proud to announce the launch of Janet de Wagt's new works in a first time exhibition entitled 'Birdseye View'. Janet's latest body of work includes a continuation of the cut-out shape theme combining landscapes and seascapes. The Royal Albatross is a new addition to Janet's repertoire, where she celebrates these majestic birds by painting seascapes, on location, directly onto the albatross shape. Janet's paintings are in acrylic and are all available at very reasonable prices for purchase. Please join us for an Artist's talk & coffee on Saturday 30 October at 2pm. SONIC SURFACES    TONY TARASIEWICZ    LEE PETTERSON PAINT 'N' BRONZE  Pam and Roddy McMillan have combined to bring you this fascinating exhibition of painted landscapes and bronze sculptures. In 2007 Roddy McMillan began bronze casting and sculpted his first piece, the famous Bluff oyster. He worked alongside bronze sculptor Colin Webster-Watson and in 2008 worked on a life-size bronze of John Balance in Napier for the Whanganui gardens. Pam’s painting career began in the early 70’s, where her love of the mountains and lakes of Central Otago and the Caitlins area are expressed in many of her works. APPLE ICONOGRAPHY IN ART EXHIBITION
5 – 28 March 2010  Please join us on Friday 5 March at 7.30pm for opening night of our Apple Iconography in Art Exhibition celebrating the start of Riverton’s Apple Harvest Festival in conjunction with The South Coast Environment Centre. Our idea for the exhibition sprung from the success of the 2009 Heritage Apple Festival where The Environment Centre organised an educational weekend of displays, workshops and family fun all themed on heritage fruit and veges; how to choose them, grow them, harvest them and preserve them. Workshops on seed saving, cider making, preserving fruit, propagating berries, what to plant in Autumn etc. (See www.sces.org.nz for pictures and more info on Harvest Festival 2009 & 2010). The aim for the ‘Apple Iconography in Art’ exhibition is to explore apples in art, including religious aspects eg: Adam & Eve showcasing the apple as a symbol of sin, Greek mythology and the many themes of apples in art through the ages; including popular art, still life, photography, poetry and comic art. We know that apples appear in many religious traditions, often as a mystical or forbidden fruit and though the forbidden fruit in the Book of Genesis is not identified, popular Christian tradition has held that it was an apple that Eve coaxed Adam to share with her. This may have been the result of Renaissance painters adding elements of Greek Mythology into biblical scenes. In this case the unnamed fruit of Eden became an apple under influence of the story of the golden apples in the Garden of Hesperides. The Riverton Arts Centre invited local Artists to explore apple themes and they’ve come up with some hardcore interpretations; some a little seedy; some with plenty of skin and some a little controversial! We hope that nobody gets the pip! NB: A gold coin donation is appreciated. Fine Art Prints for Hire Exhibition 5 – 28 February 2010    Almost 300 prints were collected by Fred Hall-Jones initially for the newly formed Art Gallery at Southland Museum to make art through the ages accessible to the schools and people of Southland. In 2004 Fred & Joan Hall-Jones donated them to The Riverton Arts Centre. This exhibition is to promote awareness of the framed collection The Arts Centre has available to rent. Prints by the Masters such as Fra Angelico, Sandro Botticelli, Paul Cezanne, John Constable, Salvador Dali and Michelangelo to name a few are available to rent at just $1.00 per painting per week. These are a great educational resource for schools in the study of Art and Art History with close to 300 available. Riverton Arts Centre Presents:
‘Miscellany’ By Jackie Jones and Brigitte Kämmlein     Our January 2010 Exhibition is entitled ‘Miscellany’ by Jackie Jones and Brigitte Kämmlein and runs from 2 January to 31 January 2010. Jackie is currently doing her honours in the Diploma of Art and Creativity at the Learning Connexion in Wellington. Brigitte, originally from Switzerland, is a graduate of Dunedin Art School where she studied printing with Marilyn Webb. She has been a White Pages Art Awards winner twice, in Timaru and Dunedin in 2008. At present she lives on the Otago Peninsula. The exhibition will include a variety of artworks from woodcuts and etchings, monoprints, collage, paintings and artists’ books. Affordable Art Exhibition – Art priced under $200 4 December – 31 December 2009 Yes, it’s that time of the year again, Christmas is looming and we’re hosting a colourful and affordable exhibition to nourish your soul and give your Christmas a creative kick. In this exhibition our aim is to exhibit art more accessible to those with limited incomes and budgets. December is a great month sales-wise, and especially summertime in Riverton when all the holiday-makers return to their holiday homes, and the visitors, local, national and international, come to our little River Town. So come and feast your eyes on our fantastic local, affordable art for all your Christmas needs! Featured Artists include: Mags Meechang, Dawn Barry, Sue Wademan, Danny Owen, Gwen Chaloner, WHere's Burt? Mota-Cicle Exhibition    Showcasing the 'Art of Motorcycles' to coincide with Burt Munro weekend for bike enthusiasts and art lovers alike! Wayne Hill in conjunction with The Riverton Arts Centre is presenting this unique and interesting exhibition not only in tribute to Burt Munro but to all those who tinker around in their 'Man Caves' (or garden sheds) with whatever they feel like! This is an exhibition that will showcase some of those aging (and not-so aging) bits of machinery transformed into both motorcycles and motorcycle art. Featuring a colourful collection of up & coming artists, young & old(ish), revealing a diverse range of styles and abilities. We have emerging artists from Riverton, Invercargill, Gore, and as far a field as Queenstown displaying their artworks. From Felted Egyptian Crown's, fox masks and Aesop's Fables to Graffiti Art and Contemporary Landscapes - something for everyone. Featured Artists: Gaye McElroy, Louise Craig, Danny Owen, Bex Pilley, Jacqueline Jones, Jill Howie, Helga Coolman, Gwen Chaloner, Hannah McCrostie, Kelly Cormack, Helen Flavell, Ann-Marie Jenkins, Merin Williams, Joy Mockford, Chris Love-Thomson, Ashleigh Mennell and Bonnie Gill. ‘The Beauty of Botanical Art’    Opening Night Friday 4 September 7.30pm With Artist Talk, Coffee & Cake Featuring ‘Specimen’; a contemporary jewellery exhibition by Lynn Kelly exhibited during the Christchurch Arts Festival in the Christchurch Art Gallery with botanical paintings and drawings by Tim Galloway. Jo Ogier and renowned New Zealand Botanical Artist Janet Marshall will also feature alongside floral artists from the Western Southland Floral Art Club and Macro-photographer Jenni Petterson. Lynn has been creating botanically-themed jewellery for many years, often using historical botanical illustrations as source material. Meanwhile Tim has worked as a botanical illustrator for 28 years, working for many institutions including Kew Gardens Herbarium, Te Papa and several universities. The exhibition combines these two backgrounds and talents. Three NZ native plants have been chosen for the show. Permission to collect specimens was kindly given by the Dunedin Botanic Garden. Tim pressed and mounted these specimens, which have now been accessioned into the Otago University Herbarium. From the herbarium specimens, Tim produced pen and ink illustrations, which he then hand-coloured in much the same way as historical botanical lithographs were. Lynn has produced works in a variety of media which reflect the botanical themes of the illustrations. The original herbarium specimens (which will later be sterilised and laid in to the Herbarium) are included in the show since they are the natural starting point from which all the exhibited work was developed. The resulting exhibition chronicles the meticulous order of the botanical illustrations, which give rise to Lynn’s more spontaneous work and some ‘looser’ botanically-inspired illustrations by Tim. NB: There is a gold coin entry for this exhibition (After opening night) as we are raising funds to host even more breathtaking events! Support your local Arts Centre, come along to opening night and chat with the artists and other like-minded folk. From Form to Fashion  If you love Art and you love Fashion this exhibition is for you! Riverton Arts Centre is hosting an exhibition entitled ‘From Form to Fashion’ beginning Friday 1 May – Sunday 31 May 2009 as part of Southland May Arts Month. In this exhibition we aim to take a small Southern NZ slice of that evolutionary process showcasing a selection of Southern artists who have contributed to the art fused fashion industry in one way or another. We are anticipating showcasing different mediums and processes that blend art, form, fashion and function. For example; fashion through photography, screen printing and the process of hand spun and dyed woollen apparel; to fibre-art and felted articles; to period garments, performance art costumes and wearable art. We will show the diversity of skills, techniques, ideas and samples of the creative fusions that selected Southland artists have produced. Opening night will be complete with a fashion show through the ages featuring a personal collection of vintage clothing from collector, Yannicka Malone, with matching era music. Opening night tickets are for sale at $10/person. (Includes fashion show and refreshments). Artists in Schools Project 2008    Artist Janet deWagt, was invited to work with Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 students to celebrate the 50 years James Hargest College has been open. 50 artworks were created symbolising the years 1958-2008 using a variety of media and techniques. The governing idea was to celebrate the schools 50th year 1958-2008, by creating commemorative, collaborative art works incorporating many aspects of the school and wider community during this time frame. Janet wanted the students to produce 50 long narrow art works to be displayed around the school as this is Janet’s signature format. After Janet’s introduction to the students and the art room environment, a studio area was set up for her to work in. Janet created artworks with themes from surrounding area to demonstrate her painting technique and style. She then discussed her technique and motivation for making art works; her working schedule, day to day commitments and work ethic. The ‘Cupcake Unit’ was integrated into the first paintings produced by the students. This unit involved icing cupcakes, photographing them and making paintings using Wayne Thiebaud as an artist model. Janet also made portrait studies of students working around the room and took photographs of students to keep a record and work back into at a later date. In the Keep New Zealand Green week 5-12 September Janet provided Kiwi templates for students to use to create images for Keep NZ green week. Students designed slogans envisaged to encourage the wider school to put their rubbish away in a bin. Each student had a letter from the slogan to create inside the kiwi templates which were arranged around the school to help focus on the Keep NZ green message. Also developed in conjunction with these other activities, were boards the students were working every lesson toward the end of the residency. Janet will helped the students make templates with stencils, woodblock prints, and other mark making utensils, sponges etc. A wide range of subject matter was used to produce these boards. Senior students, Year 11-13, also benefited from Janet’s input into their NCEA external folios as Janet offered advice and guidance to students working in the same studio area. James Hargest College staff also had the opportunity to work with Janet and created a personalised Art book. ‘From Across the Seas’- Janet de Wagt  Acknowledging her Dutch heritage has inspired artist Janet deWagt to create art works that reflect her love for her father’s native homeland. “From Across the Seas” celebrates her father’s journey to New Zealand, bringing with him his Dutch culture and family history. The imagery that her Father brings is the imagery of the 1950’s frozen at that point in time. All travellers to New Zealand have to come ‘over the seas’. With this in mind Janet has merged these visual images with her family history and her sense of New Zealand identity. The wave of Dutch immigrants in the 50’s is celebrated in Janet’s exhibition. As a kiwi child the family “across the seas” were symbolised by photographs, letters, Dutch food, and Dutch Gin! “I might have been brought up as a Kiwi, but genetically I can’t fight my gene pool” While it was a shock to Janet, her recent diagnosis of breast cancer has allowed her to add a twist to this exhibition. Janet acknowledges her cancer in her artworks and the “journey” that the disease has also travelled throughout her Dutch whakapapa and family history. Although I cannot speak Dutch, I haven’t escaped my Dutch genes and this has been made more significant by the diagnosis of breast cancer and subsequent mastectomy. Like Rembrant’s women, Janet is larger than life, her artworks reflect the energy, beyond the black and white shadows, putting the process in a visual context through Rembrant paintings. The glass hearts symbolise the shadows on the walls, continuous words from her childhood, Friesland and Dutch, the difference in language and in someways they appear as completely different countries. The Friesland canal boat bobbing around on a huge a Pacific Sea, symbolises what happened to a lot of the Dutch when they came here, “just bobbing up and down”, very isolated. The old traditional Dutch symbols slowly disappear and the ‘free’ symbols of New Zealand birds take over – in part my father always liked birds! I have used copper leaf and gold leaf, as that symbolises “old Dutch” for me. My father in his army uniform, shows what he left behind, his family, way of life on a small farm, and he was coming to a big unknown. He knew he would be working on a farm, hence the ‘sheep’. The Kiwis reflect Dutch colours, Dutch lace – the homeland, held together in memories, the past of the homeland is contained in the present. “From Across the Seas” exhibition is only the part of this journey. Janet has begun a large body of work which will continue expanding and travelling to other centers. As part of this process Janet is in the process of seeking a residency in Holland in order to further expand and develop the visual imagery of Dutch Migration to New Zealand exploring the Dutch view of immigration to the ‘other side'. A Balance of Options  A solo exhibition by Invercargill multi media and graffiti Artist 'DEOW' AKA Danny Owen. Born in the southernmost city of the world in the mid 1980’s; Deow, like most artists, exhibited a passion for drawing and scribbling from infancy. Nurtured by an artistic family, and fired with a fierce competitive spirit, he still recalls that his yearning to excel pitted him in torrid combatative brawls with pens and pencils against his equally driven cousins Adolescence was as troubled as anyone’s but he found a new sense of balance in a fate that took him to Anaheim, California. There, a vista of highway walls stretched in endless ribbons of graffiti across the landscape. Tenement blocks were carpet bombed with the unfettered outpourings of an unruly Californian Youth – soul and heartbeat and angst floated free as the air across the Californian landscape – a signature – a vibrant reminder that artistic expression is not content to subsist, diffidently within the breast but must sport and display itself before the eyes of the world. As a child to its mother’s milk, Deow suckled on the artistic licence of the new land. As his passions inflamed, huge gaps appeared in local spray can stocks. Armed with little more than his expressive urge and an OLD ENGLISH calligraphy font, He brought an antipodean idiom to the Los Angeles streets. His mark lingers there still – in places possible and impossible to reach. Deow returned to New Zealand possessed by a demonic urge to smother gray, lifeless, urban walls with hues and colours and the stuff of life. As the Californians pondered the mystery of his lingering idioms in Los Angeles, Deow splashed his mark across the dusty old walls of Southland and Otago. He layered the grime of centuries with the sparkle of new life and now apologises for any coronaries that the makeover caused the more conservative beneficiaries of his noble and gratuitous art. From then to now is but a whisper of breath - the heady anarchic days of youth are now tempered by the years; the outpourings mellowed by the experience and joy of life. Expression has taken on a new life, legitimacy and a new currency of meaning. His graffiti and street Art has found its way into the mainstream. Launched with a solo exhibition billed as Art of Fact, Deow has rehabilitated the raw rebellion of the streets into legitimate expression of soul and heart. He now teaches Art at the YMCA to young people with the same urgings as his own youth. So whilst he has the respectability of exhibiting with Southland’s best artists in the Annual Spring Exhibition , he also, now, brings an empathy to his classroom, encouraging and guiding and nurturing the creative spirit of youth When he is not teaching or doing commissions or working collaboratively, Deow fills his days with custom painting surf boards, design work, street style art and canvass work. The rest of his days, and many of his nights, he will indulge his other passion – surfing. For Deow, the sea is yet another canvas on which to express himself. He etches his way down the smooth faces and splashes and swirls through the spume, creating patterns and forms to tantalise with a mere whisper of existence. Who knows, perhaps these images filter through to the sub conscious mind and emerge, unbidden, into the oils and the brush stroke. Perhaps, when we see Deow riding the waves along the Riverton Coastline we are watching the birth of another artwork. Can you see the essence of Riverton in these works. Look harder, it will be there somewhere. Southern Landscapes   A selection of Southern Artists were invited to contribute to a 'Southern Landscapes' exhibition to start of the beginning of the 2009 arts year. We chose a 'Southern Landscapes' theme to celebrate our environment and the artists that capture the essence of where we live. Artists have committed images of the Southland Landscape to canvas since, the European settlers arrived in the province in the 1840’s, at the beginning providing the only visual record of the new country. Today this tradition continues with many Southland artists making their living in this genre. It is an accessible and popular art form – appealing to both residents and visitors in equal numbers. Images of Fiordland and the Wakatipu have been very well documented, but the Southland landscape is less well known. Our concept for this exhibition is to gather views of Southland from regionally important artists. Featuring artworks by: Nigel Wilson, Janet de Wagt, Pat Hall, John Husband, Wayne Edgerton, Kirk Munro, Rachel Hirabayashi, Dawn Barry, John Wishart, Brett Duncan, Inge Doesburg, Barry Robson, Jane Duncan, Maree Beker, and Tess Van Dijk. Entry: Free. All artworks are for sale. Where: Riverton Arts centre, 129 Palmerston Street, Riverton. Outdoor Odyssey    Sculpture by Stuart KingTake a journey through the Riverton Art Centre’s (Indoor) ‘Outdoor Odyssey’ exhibition this December and experience the 3 dimensional figures, shapes and forms created by local artists, sculptors, carvers, potters and furniture makers who have combined to deliver you a Summer garden art fiesta. Beginning at the entranceway of the Centre, a garden path welcomes you on your voyage of discovery and an exhibition delivers you an imaginative interpretation of our Kiwi obsession with outdoor living that merges art, function, entertainment and enjoyment. As you continue through the exhibition you can interact with pieces individually inspired, including interpretations of our natural environment, culture and Southern heritage; where 3 dimensional stories and emotions are skilfully conveyed and are creatively confined within the core of the object. Take a seat in one of the pieces of organic garden furniture that relax next to the clean lines of Oamaru stone sculptures and contemplate conceptual works by Invercargill sculptors John Wishart and Stuart King. Other contributing artists include: Karen Bickley, Wayne Hill, Gordon and Wendy Harris, Rob Smith and Clayton Roe. Entry is free, sales are very welcome. Aparima College Year 10 Street Banner Exhibition Proudly Sponsored by Lions International, The Southland Times and Southland District Council, and under the guidance of Anne-Marie Eastwood, Aparima College Year 10 Students have designed Street Banners depicting '150 Years of Education of Riverton and District Schools'. These Banners will be displayed in Palmerston Street, Riverton over the festive season. First Place awarded to Ashley Kennedy - St. Columba School 1913 - 1972 Second Place awarded to Danielle Boniface and Cate Dillon - Riverton Primary School 1974 Third Place awarded to Dean Van Brecht and Callum Ashley - Waipango School Highly Commended was Sam West and Eden Seater - Gummies Bush School 1866 - 1948 Also Highly Commended was Cassandra Scott-Laffey and Layla Buckland-Lonneker for their depiction of Riverton District High School 1859 - 1973 Schools represented in the exhibition include: Round Hill School, Fairfax School 1891 - 1957, Oraki School 1886 - 1938, Pahia School 1885 - 1971, Waimatuku School 1889 - 1990, Thornbury School 1883, Wild Bush School 1872 - 1947, Granity School 1912 - 1962, Ermedale School 1915 - 1939, Gropers Bush School 1872 - 1880, Solomans House School 1860 - 1890, Orepuki School 1872 - 2003, Colac Bay School 1880 - 1991 and Aparima College 1974. Of the 21 schools that were served the Riverton and Districts area, only 4 schools now remain. All Thingz R 2  Riverton 'surfies' Wayne Hill and Chris Flavell have combined their artistic forces in a single exhibition showcasing around 50 pieces of artwork that explore the duality of all things; not only reflected in the subject matter of each artists paintings, but in the differing styles of each artists work. These differences also have a cultural element with Wayne being of Pakeha descent and Chris, Maori. Wayne's artwork has an 'unstructured freedom' where Chris' paintings are very 'structured' and tackle subjects such as child abuse and depression. Each of Chris' paintings tell a story which is the purpose of Maori art and his interpretation of the exhibition title played on the daily cycle of the sun and moon. "As one takes over from the other, the other lets go". Wayne uses alot of castaway objects so he is not so restricted by the cost of materials. His paintings express alot of different emotions including the light-hearted, but many have also been influenced by the death of his Father just over a year ago. While the pair's artworks are "totally different" and "worlds apart" they are both saying the same thing. 3 OCTOBER - 26 OCTOBER, 2008 'HIDDEN FALLS AND OTHER PLACES' An exhibition of abstract in oils on linen and paper, by Emma Milburn, a Dunedin artist. Fascinating pieces, with some of the work relating to the South Island, in particular, the Hollyford area. MAY: 5th - 5th JUNE, 2008 NOT BORED - Wayne Hill Wayne Hill, a renowned surfer, poet and visual artist, is offering Riverton a unique show. He celebrates 40 years with a surfboard, so come and share his stories, feel the surf and ride the waves. “It started out being a distant ‘I dare’, a dream, a few years ago. Now, a celebration of 40 years of surfing, a way of telling you the many gifts a surfing life has given me. Being at one with nature, with reality, a way to wash away the world’s rubbish. Some days and some nights you go to a heaven, just you and your insignificance, basking in the beauty of it all. Which brings me to the here and now, a dream turned into a reality.”  TOASTING THE CHEESE ROLL There are different icons that are associated with Southland, whether it is the Bluff oyster, paua patties, muttonbirds, the cabbage tree, even Invercargill's import, Tim Shadbolt! The most understated icon of the South is, however, the humble toasted cheese roll. What can be more delicious than biting into toasted bread smothered in butter, a warm smooth creamy cheese filling mixing with the butter dripping down your chin? This, with a mug of hot soup for lunch during the coldest of a Southern winter, cannot be compared. The cheese roll is simple, sustaining and tasty and can be enjoyed anytime for a snack, breakfast, morning tea, supper, or during a sports game. The toasted cheese roll must be the biggest fundraiser in Southland, providing funding for community projects, such as Schools and Sports Clubs, and is found in most cafes, lunch bars, and supermarkets. It is believed that the cheese roll is only relevant to Southland, its history, according to recipe books dates back to the late 1950's and early 1960's, resulting in an evolution of various fillings over time. We welcome anyone with a story to tell about the cheese rolls, what memories does the delicacy evoke for you? On September 27th, 2008 the Riverton Community Arts centre organised a fun day, towards the end on the exhibition of 'Toasting The Cheese Roll.'A chance for individuals and business people to compete for the best cheese roll title with a trophy. In addition, an exhibition relating to cheese rolls, the history of its origins, and inviting stories about the cheese roll with their recipes. Poems and stories from all ages were popular with the public. Profiles featuring well known identities, with their memories and opinions of the cheese roll, as they chatted informally on a DVD presented throughtout the exhibition. The fundraising day which sold cheese rolls as a fundraiser and thoughtout the month, also featured a cheese roll making demonstration, 'How many cheese rolls can you eat?' eat off, "Guess the Weight of the pkt of cheese rolls." An auction finished off the day, with a 'piece de art' kindly painted by Nigel Brown, and six wonderful cartoons created with a cheese roll flavour from 'Chicane.' |
