Art Speak

theMillwatermag artspeakwith Estuary Arts

Spring is in the Air – colour, form and texture abound

The sun is out, the birds are singing and the school holiday art programme for children aged 5 years and up is already upon us. The two-week programme is running from 26 September to 7 October and on Friday 30 September there was a fun dropin session for parents and kids to come and “paint a cup”. This project was so popular last school holidays that it sold out, so get in quick to book your place during this final week.

For the month of October, Estuary Arts will be hosting the 5th National Mosaic Exhibition and Competition. View over 110 mosaic artworks by both established and novice artists. Despite mosaics having been around for thousands of years, there has been some debate over the years as to where it fits in, in terms of art or craft. Gradually, throughout the years, its recognition as an art form is increasing and more and more galleries are embracing it as an art form. None have been more instrumental in this recognition within New Zealand than an initially small group of enthusiasts who started holding national exhibitions back in 2011. Since then, the groundswell of people involved in mosaic art within New Zealand seems to get more adventurous and inspiring at each exhibition, offering an opportunity for those new to the art and experienced artists to learn, meet and share thoughts and enthusiasm with others.

Upstairs in the Hibiscus Gallery will be a presentation of paintings and ceramic artworks made by Whangaparaoa Art Lab students aged 6-16 years, tutored by artists Treena Wilton and Anna Evans, exploring storytelling through the visual arts.

The foyer gallery will feature a photographic exhibition, exploring the geography and history of a portion of the wild West Coast, by local photographer Matt van der Linden.

To book into a class or talk, contact the Centre on 09 426 5570 or email manager@estuaryarts.org

School Holiday Art Classes 26 Sept - 7 Oct

214b Hibiscus Coast Highway, Orewa www.estuaryarts.org | 09 4265570 Open 7 days a week, 9am - 4pm | FREE ENTRY

Stories exhibition

Hibiscus Gallery

Matt van der Linden

‘A week on the Coast’ Photography

The 5th National NZ Mosaic Exhibition & Symposium