June news from Wall to Wall
We welcome back two guest artists this month who have exhibited with us before: Gillian Saunders and Jeanette Brough. Their work will be on display and for sale until 30 June.
Welcome to the June newsletter. Wall to Wall collective members are constantly bringing new work into the gallery in Bridge St.
Guest artist spaces
In addition to their normal display in the main body of the gallery, members Roz Speirs and Virginia Watson continue with extra spaces in the guest area for the month of June.
As well, Wearable Art superstar Gill Saunders joins us again with a lavish display and Jeanette Brough also returns to take out a guest space.
Gill Saunders
“My June guest spot at Wall to Wall Gallery features an eclectic mix of some earlier pieces and more recent work. My Natural History themed embroideries, including bees, fish, fungi and birds sit alongside some paper clay sculptures of winged and footed cakes!”
Jeanette Brough
Jeanette reports on her recent adventures.
“Here I continue my journey. I’m an abstract artist who loves traveling, shoreline rambles and mountain biking.
“A recent visit to Thailand during the Lunar New Year, celebrating the Year of the Dragon, inspired this mixed media collage.”
Roz Speirs
During the month of June, Roz will be exhibiting her Little Landscape artworks on one of the guest walls.
These pieces are created using thick layers of glass powders which allow for the subtle blending of colours to create moody, evocative imagery.
Working with glass powders is particularly challenging as the glass powders don’t develop their true colours until fired, so she never knows quite what she’s going to get.
Once fired, they go back in the kiln with extra small details added in enamel paint or mica.
Virginia Watson
Virginia’s Characters of the Inlet continues through June, celebrating the leggy birds of Nelson’s Waimea Inlet.
“I once thought the inlet between Nelson and Mapua was just a dirty mud flat. Then I started to notice the tidal rhythms, the reflections, curvy channels, and of course the fabulous leggy birds. Now I’m in love!”
Nelson’s inlet is an internationally important coastal wetland for migratory birds, many of which are now rare or endangered, says Virginia.
Painted with a knife, the paintings allude to the fragility of coastal habitats, but they’re fun and colourful and full of quirky birdy behaviours.
The titles of the works complete the story told in the painting.
These paintings of shore birds have been curated into a series, and some of them can also be seen online at www.VWatsonArt.co.nz
MJ exhibits in Wellington
Mary-Jane Steffens has had a pastel drawing of her nephew Matthew accepted into the exhibition Looking at Ourselves, at the NZ Academy of Fine Arts in Wellington.
“Matthew was born with Down Syndrome and Autism. To avoid sensory overload, Matthew will often wear earmuffs and floppy hats,” says MJ.
“Showing Matthew in his camouflage symbolises not just his need to hide and protect himself, it also represents how he is often overlooked and easily ignored. It is easier to bypass the things that make us feel uncomfortable and unsure how to act.
“With this portrait I aimed to capture Matthew showing the personality he has despite the difficulties he faces in life.”
The exhibition at the Academy opened yesterday (May 31) and continues until June 30.
Leigh at the McKee
Leigh Dougherty joined with potter Sue Newitt, jeweller Christine Hafermalz-Wheeler and painter Sally Middleton in the opening of their exhibition Pigments, Pots and Pearls at the McKee Gallery on Wednesday.
Despite the bitterly cold night in Nelson, there was a large turnout at the opening.
Leigh spoke for many artists when she said “we all enjoy making art but not publicly speaking about it”.
In the event, Art Society President Pieter Swanepoel introduced the group and spoke on their behalf.
The work of the artists was well appreciated during a noisy night of talk and laughter.
The exhibition continues until June 16.
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