Whale Bay painter Miranda Caird’s teensy home studio is so full-to-overflowing with artist’s clutter it’s hard to imagine she could show a whole classroom around let alone an entire school. Keep Reading
It’s the first time I’ve ventured up the gravel driveway to Toi Hauāuru Studio – I’ve driven past the flags on the Main Rd between Lorenzen Bay and Greenslade Roads countless times and thought I must visit sometime.
I’m glad I finally made the effort, local artist Simon Te Wheoro’s workplace embodies toi Māori o Whaingaora (Māori art of Whaingaroa), and is a must for locals and visitors to get a feel for art that is steeped in the history of this place.
Simon can whakapapa to Ngāti Māhanga (whose ancestral lands extended from Raglan Harbour to the West Bank of the Waikato River), Ngāti Te Weehi (principle iwi of the Aotea Harbour) and Ngāti Tamainupō (from Waingaro) on his father’s side and Te Aupouri on his mother’s side. Keep Reading
The awards keep coming for the Tales from the Farm series of children’s books co-created by Raglan illustrator Margery Fern, her graphic designer daughter Ezra Andre and writer Jennifer Sommervell – Margery’s Christchurch-based sister.
Their fifth title ‘Uncle Allan’s Stinky Leg’ has just won two Purple Dragonfly first-place awards for excellence in children’s literature.
It continues a remarkable run as each of the previous titles in the series also won the trio a first place in the US-based awards. Keep Reading
Surfboard carver Jess Santorik’s first exhibition at Raglan Arts Weekend has paid dividends with an opportunity to show her work at Te Papa Store.
Exhibiting out of her garage on Wallis St, she joined the 2019 arts weekend with some trepidation.
“I really wasn’t sure at first if people would even come,” she says.
She and partner Eligh transformed their garage into a gallery, got busy with signage and her first RAW exhibition was a great success with lots of visitors and sales of her Māori-inspired surfboard carvings. Keep Reading
It’s a highly anticipated arts event in the North Island, and this year is even more special as Raglan celebrates its tenth annual Raglan Arts Weekend this Easter.
Locals and visitors alike will be treated to the biggest Arts Weekend yet, where 37 artists across a very diverse range of media will share their creative talents over three days. Keep Reading
Local artist and rising talent, Dominique Marriott, is turning the creative process on its head with her new must-see performance-based exhibition in Hamilton at the end of this month.
Visitors will be able to experience how Dominique infuses the ancient practice of Japanese brush calligraphy into her nude paintings, in an energetic performance where the artist paints live from a nude model in the gallery. Keep Reading
Children tend to get into trouble when they draw on walls, but not Denise Fort. That’s because she’s a grown-up and people generally love what she does with her artist’s marker pens in places on public view. Keep Reading
It’s not often there’s a festive air and corks are popped at the closing of a business, but then Matapihi Art Gallery – which shut its doors for the final time last Sunday – was no normal retail outlet.
While the dozen or so fabric and glass artists, painters, printers, jewellers, weavers and sculptors at the closing-down party lamented losing their collective space at the upper end of the CBD, all were grateful for the opportunity they’d had to show and sell their work locally over the past decade. Keep Reading
A record number of artists have signed up for the Raglan Arts Weekend this year, which will be held over its new date in Easter from 20 to 22nd April. 37 artists have agreed to open their studios and places of work, making this the biggest open studio style Raglan Arts Weekend ever.
Not only is it the biggest, but this year’s event also promises to wow with 13 new artists to add to many of the established favourites who have drawn art fans nationwide year upon year.
“We’re blown away by the number of sign-ups and the diversity in talent that we’re seeing this year,” says Nicky Brzeska, the co-ordinator for the Raglan Arts Weekend. “Along with some amazing painters, mixed media artists, photographers and ceramicists, we also have tattoo artists, those that forge steel, a furniture carver, a weaver, a floral designer and even an artist who works with dyed bees’ wax,” she adds. Keep Reading
Raglan Arts Weekend is on the move to a new date and with a new project manager at the helm.
The arts weekend will move from Auckland Anniversary weekend to Easter weekend in 2019 and former London-based public relations consultant Nicky Brzeska hopes to add her PR, brand management skills and fresh ideas to the popular art trail.
“I want to build on the amazing work established in previous years by arts centre manager Jacqueline and her team,” she says.
The format will remain the same – a preview exhibition in the lead up to the weekend at the Old School and open studios during the weekend.
Coming from global PR company Edelman to a creative role right in the heart of her community is perfect for Nicky, who is also starting a flower farm in Te Mata on a large lifestyle block with her husband John and young sons Jack and Finn.
“We’ve come from a one-bedroom flat in London to five-acres. It’s amazing to be able to work in a place I absolutely love, have inspiring conversations with artists and emerging talent, and promote a beautiful community I care about.”
Nicky has worked on some amazing jobs in her 19-years in PR including managing a citywide treasure hunt, running a ‘5 cities in 5 days’ music festival and working with the Tate Modern. She has also helped to establish emerging artists in London, and delivered brand propositions for start-ups as well global companies like Facebook, Samsung and Disney.
She is looking forward to working with Raglan artists and using her PR skills to promote the weekend.
“I can see a lot of potential to refresh the look across all platforms we use, including the new website that was launched this year. In time, we can look to make content more interactive and engaging, with some more video and behind the scenes stories of artists at work.”
Nicky is organising an ‘Artists’ Huddle’ for Thursday 25 October at 6.30pm at the Old School for local artists, creatives and any interested folk in town to give feedback on the Raglan Arts Weekend events so far.
“Our creative artists are the fabric of our community – I want to make sure everyone who wants to has a say in the event,” she says.
A “Get in Quick!” discounted registration fee of $139 for 2019 RAW is on offer until 30 October. From 30 October, it will revert to $150.
Registrations will close on Friday, November 9 to allow brochures to be ready before Christmas.
Check out RAW on Facebook, visit the website raglanartsweekend.nz or email nicky@raglanartscentre.co.nz.
Old School Arts Centre