Visitors and Fiordland residents enjoyed the ambience of the annual 38th Multi Media Art Exhibition which was enhanced by the beautiful contemporary guitar music of David Vernon of Te Anau who played throughout the weekend, said Glenda Bell – Fiordland Art Society President.
The exhibition was held over three days and hosted by the Fiordland Arts Society featured unique and thought provoking work by Guest Artist Michele Beevors, a sculptor from Dunedin, with her incredible knitted skeletons. Michele is an Australian artist and Senior Lecturer at Dunedin School of Art in New Zealand.
She holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from Columbia University, and a Master of Visual Arts from the Australian National University School of Art and has exhibited in the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. Her intricate work that was displayed saw her working 5-6 hours each night on the project.
The wonderful creations by the COOTS group of fibre artists from Central Otago with their extraordinary innovative and original fibre creations which strongly affirmed that real art is not limited to paint and brush work only, but can include mediums traditionally viewed as 'mundane'!
The 170 art medium on display included everything from fabric, fibre, metals and wood to ceramic, glass paint and ink... from many artists from Fiordland, Southland and wider regions and the beautiful art by Caley Hall (Honorary of the Society). The Fiordland Quilters also had a display of their wildly colourful creations and a significant amount of items were snapped up by people buying these beautiful pieces.
“This year the Society had a new layout which created a much more open and relaxed space, plenty of light and room for people to move about in, without intruding on each other as they stood back to view the art. This gave an overall feeling at the exhibition one of serene, positivity, and uplift, allowing the Society to create a classy event”, she said
Entry on the Saturday included a free afternoon tea while having the opportunity to meet the artists and live entertainment by highly talented Fiordland musicians and singers, David and Carol Vernon, Sue Hollows, Archie Ross and Bindy Baines, Pauline Nicholson and Peter Jackson, who performed in a relaxed and informal setting. The music drew people in for them to create a mini concert, which was enjoyed by all, in combination with delicious food by Trace of Dainty Delights.
The Society was thrilled with the success of the exhibition with reasonable numbers through the door, although sales were low. With the success of both the visual and performing arts at the event, the Society will continue to feature at future exhibitions, said Glenda.
- Julie Walls
