Kowhai Art & Craft anniversary
August 5, 2015
Mahurangi Matters
29
Community celebrates club’s 40th For 40 years this year, Kowhai Art & Craft Inc. has provided Mahurangi art and craft enthusiasts with a place to learn, share and be creative. The idea of forming a club was born in 1974 when five ex-night school potters decided to continue their craft together under the tutelage of Mooreen Cameron, who is now the group’s patron. They were offered the use of a cowshed on the Mann farm at Sandspit, which they named the Mud Slingers Inn. Funds were raised to buy a kiln but then it was discovered that the kiln could not be transported up the steep track to the cowshed. It ended up in the Speed’s garage until it was kindly given space by Peter Thompson at the Warkworth Hire Centre, in Woodcocks Road. From then on, the need for better premises was seen as an imperative. The women decided to formalise the club but had to limit membership to 20 because of the lack of facilities. From the beginning, the aim was to establish a community arts and crafts centre in Warkworth, incorporating a studio, workshop and display/sales area. The group members felt very strongly that there was a need for this in the town as the district contained many talented and diverse crafts-men and women who would be willing to teach. It could also be a tourist attraction for the Kowhai town. Members who attended the first annual meeting were Mooreen Cameron, Judy Cairns, Edythe Sharp, Peg Gardiner, Valerie Pendred, Mina Imeson, Olive Woolman, Isobel Smailes, Dorothy Hall, Elspeth Speed, Linda Moore, Barbara Nash, Cherry Lawrie, Rosemary McFarlane, Mary Starr, Phoebe Tull, Hazel Sutherland and Jessie Oliver. Warkworth Rotarians were among the first groups to support the new club with funding.
Long-time club supporter Norman Nelson.
In 1977, Kowhai Crafts tendered $3500 for the Keith Hay office building. The tender was accepted and after more negotiations with the A&P Society, land was leased in September 1977 and the building transported to its present site at the showgrounds, on SH1, on 15 November 1977. The last meeting was held in the cowshed at Sandspit on 6 December 1977. A newsletter from that time says, “It was with a little nostalgia that we cleaned it for the last time. But for the kindness of Mr and Mrs Mann, we would have been homeless for these last two years.” A grand opening at the new premises was held on 11 November 1978, with Sir Keith and Lady Hay as honoured guests. In his address, Sir Keith said that
More than 60 past and present members of Kowhai Art & Craft attended a lunch in Warkworth in June to celebrate the group’s 40th anniversary. A display was mounted on the club’s history and many stories were shared of the early days. The anniversary cake was cut by founding member and current Patron Mooreen Cameron and current president Eilene Lamb. A Retrospective Exhibition to mark the anniversary will be held in the Old Masonic Hall in Warkworth, from August 21 to 23. The exhibition will showcase the work of current members, as well as past and present pieces by past presidents, Life Members and Service Award holders.
the fostering of community spirit was important in the NZ way of life and acknowledged the pioneer spirit, which was the hallmark of Kowhai Crafts Club. At the time of the opening, the membership stood at 72. Kowhai Crafts was incorporated on 17 August 1976 and the name changed to Kowhai Art & Craft Incorporated on 17 August 2000. The group now represents about 12 different disciplines, ranging from art and pottery to spinning, glass art and book art, and has just over 100 members. Members of the public are welcome to visit the clubrooms at the Warkworth Showgrounds if they are interested in joining. Info: kowhai-art-craft.nz
KOWHAI ART & CRAFT INC.
40TH ANNIVERSARY RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBITION OLD MASONIC HALL, BAXTER ST. WARKWORTH OPENING HOURS: FRI. 21ST AUGUST NOON – 6 P.M. SAT 22ND & SUN 23RD AUGUST 10 A.M. – 4 P.M.DAILY FREE ENTRY
LET U
S DO Y O
ALL WELCOME
UR W
ON R I & G N A SHI
ING
Leave your washing while you shop
Kowhai Laundry
• Linen • Sports Kits • Duvets • Sleeping bags • Blankets Dry Cleaning Agents
Hours - Mon-Fri 8am-5pm • Sat 9am-1pm 13 Neville St, Warkworth Phone 09 425 9775
New Zealand made Art, Crafts & Gifts • Great Outlet for artist & crafts-people
• New members welcome
Phone 09 422 7257 1151 Leigh Road. 2km past the Matakana Roundabout
www.craft-shop.co.nz
Find us on Facebook