Art to view and art to create

Make 2023 the year to boost your creativity by visiting your local art gallery more often, or as an exhibiting artist, or take part in one of the exciting learning opportunities on offer. The term one arts education programme commences in early February and has a range of 4-week to 8-week-long classes in acrylic and watercolour painting, life drawing, printmaking, mosaics and ceramic art. Learning the art of clay has really taken off in popularity and to keep up with the demand we have six adult classes in throwing on a potter’s wheel and hand-building techniques, as well as two afterschool classes for children aged five years and up and a painting and drawing class. New on offer is a Tilda-style rag doll-making class with Claire Begin for eight weeks and two brand new beginners acrylics courses with Iona Breinhost and Kate Jones.

Our gallery line up in February features five exciting new exhibitions. In the main gallery view the trio of local baby boomer artists Heather Matthews, Pam Naylor and Ian Anderson who have called their group paintings and drawings exhibition 24 Fingers and 6 Thumbs. Each artist has their own unique style and creative language from abstraction to hyperrealism.

In gallery two view Gary Hansen’s Tangaroa series, a cool colour palette of subtle abstract paintings by this local retired design and technology teacher.

Farbe/Monochrom, by Tim Butler-Jones, is displayed in the Education foyer and features a collection of six colour and five monochrome photographic images that elevate the things we normally pass without noticing. The colour works are simple studies of hue, light and form, made to heighten or calm a mood, whereas the monochrome pieces are dark, geometric spaces where the human element is distorted and dwarfed by their surroundings.

The final show to view is the Wonder of Glass Art by Kate Cornwall and Kim Logue. Glass is always fascinating to view. The colours are translucent and mesmerising.

Estuary Arts Centre also has a chockerfull gift shop with a wide range of affordable, creative arts and crafts if you are looking for that little gift with a difference.

Find us at the southern end of Orewa on the Western Reserve overlooking the beautiful estuary at 214B Hibiscus Coast Highway, with plenty of free parking and an onsite cafe. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, phone us on 09 4265570 or view our website www. estuaryarts.org.