Recently the New Plymouth District Council brought the sculpture above for $75,000 NZD and placed it outside local library Puke Ariki in Taranaki.

However the sculpture isns't very liked on the streets of New Plymouth with tui boards being created and the council recieving uproar from the sculpture.

One local resident told infonews.co.nz "It is a waste of money it really is"

"It looks like a bunch of lego blocks"

See our related story here: WE NEVER GET A SAY

Red Bull Collective Art is underway with hundreds of students around New Zealand booking time slots and contributing their creativity to a giant piece of digital art in a truly global project. With only one week to go, students must book their time slot by March 23. The collective artwork will be completed on March 24.
 
The unique digital project is being activated in 85 countries and offers creative talent the opportunity to take part in the creation of what could end up being the biggest and most diverse artwork in the world. The final piece will be displayed in galleries at universities around New Zealand and online.
 
Time slots can be booked on the Red Bull Collective Art website www.redbullcollectiveart.com , where people can see the artwork being created as whole, share and comment on photos and find information about the artists that have participated.
 
When a participant’s time slot becomes active, they will have 4 hours to download their template and start working on it. When their timeslot is up, the artist uploads the image back to the website where it is added to the entire artwork. The artist may use any format they like to work on the image such as Photoshop or Adobe, including freehand, the image is scanned before uploading.
 
Red Bull Collective Art is based upon a collaborative creative technique called Exquisite Cadaver developed by the Surrealists of the early twentieth century. Each artist adds to an artwork in sequence after being inspired by what the previous person contributed. Red Bull in partnership with Adobe brings Exquisite Cadaver into the digital age.
 
While this is first and foremost a student project targeting the creative youth in all countries, the project is open to anyone who wants to create something and share it with the world. To explore the collective artwork completed so far or to book a time slot, visit www.redbullcollectiveart.com .
 

Red Bull Collective Art Timing:
Applications: Time slots can be booked until March 23
Artwork creation: March 11 – March 24
Exhibition period: May 13 - May 31

“A Piece of You and Me” is an exhibition featuring North Island artist Tanya McCabe, who has evolved her style of combining detailed texture elements with vibrant colours resulting in unique stunning originals, and local professional artist Joanne Webber, who gains her inspiration from a diversity of places such as advertising, history, public & political affairs, with irony playing an important role in her works.
Tanya McCabe’s art was selected as the winner in a competition that hundreds of artists entered to use her painting as a jigsaw for for Holsom in 2011.
Tanya has a background in graphic design, with a vivid imagination and a passion to experiment, Tanya loves to translate the weird and wonderful images she sees, into her well crafted original masterpieces. Never satisfied with flat colours, Tanya’s work often has multiple layers of translucent colours skillfully combined to create her unique originals. A very humble artist, Tanya creates from the heart and still finds herself amazed when people adore her work.
Joanne Webber has gone from painting realistically to preferring to display concepts, ideas and
notions. She has exhibited throughout New Zealand and in New York and her works are held in collections internationally including Hong Kong, Germany, England and Italy (Benetton Collection).

Joanne studied Art History and NZ History at Canterbury University, and her current focus is on New Zealand based themes and ideas. These days she really enjoys the fusion of iconic kiwiana with current motifs and ideas. Her work is often inspired by advertising items and their relevance in contemporary society, and she likes to combine various elements of historical value alongside contemporary. This exhibition has combined two different aspects of Joanne’s paintings. The first is the exploration of landscapes, breaking them down into colour-blocks whilst retaining the basic shapes.  The second group of paintings further explore my fascination with combining our iconic symbols (the tiki) with childhood and/or European patterns and designs, thus presenting the dual nature of our culture.

Terrace Downs Art exhibitions feature a unique opening night where you are able to dine with the artists and enjoy great company, a delicious Buffet, prepared by Terrace Downs wonderful chefs and wonderful music from the soulful Kris Trousselot on the piano.
Opening night is Thursday April 4th at 7pm priced at $45 pp and includes complimentary beverage on arrival.
Bookings for this night are essential. The exhibition is free to attend and will run from the 5th April– 2nd May during resort opening hours.
Please contact The Arts Director for any enquiries 021 1229317 or rachael.inch@terracedowns.co.nz

Open Studio Weekend 2013:
Arts and energy at Corban Estate
Saturday 23 & Sunday 24 March 2013, 10am - 4pm

A live weekend of free arts activities at Corban Estate Arts Centre

On its 9th year, Open Studio Weekend has become the foremost and fast-growing arts event at Corban Estate Arts Centre, offering art lovers a holistic and immersive experience of varied art forms and expressions. With twenty open onsite artists’ studios, contemporary art exhibitions, dynamic performing arts groups, Pacifica arts and culture, a brand new Coffee Studio café, a gallery shop and much more, Corban Estate Arts Centre has become a hub for the thriving arts in West Auckland.

Twenty artists will be opening their studio doors to welcome visitors and share the ideas behind their artworks. These artists include many newly established ones such as marble sculptor, Martin Selman, and queen of brightly coloured mixed media quirky characters Beck Wheeler. All artists now resident at Corban Estate will have work featured in the exhibition, Neighbourhood, installed just for the weekend. This year’s Open Studio Weekend offers more variety in mediums to see ranging from painting, mixed media, printmaking, greenstone carving, and other art forms.  In the Galleries you can visit exhibitions by leading Pacific artist, Philipe Tohi; new work by Jason Hall, creator of the Picket bridges that from the gateways at both ends of Henderson Main Street; and images of enigmatic constructions in landscapes by Kate Woods.   Other art works displayed on site this weekend are included in exhibitions by artists from Waitakere Central Community Arts Council and Waitakere College Secondary students.

One of the newest additions to the event is a full programme of vibrant stage shows by leading performing arts companies, such as the Maori contemporary dance company Atamira, Phoenix NZ Young Performers and Mixit youth arts project. Atamira’s professional performances continuously receive high praise and display its edgy and unconventional spirit. Phoenix injects its youth energy to the event with Fresh Movement, a newly established street dance group; while on the other hand captivates the audience with the strong and emotive play Blood in water, performed by talented up and coming actors and musicians. Representing the emerging film aspect of Phoenix is a 15 minute film The contender, directed and produced by Chris Peters when he was aged 16 and his 15 year old brother. Mixit also showcases the dynamic skills of young migrant and local artists.

Part of this enriching arts experience is the must-see Pacifica Arts Centre, where visitors will be in close contact with Pacific artists, learn the traditional arts and crafts from the Pacifica Mamas and enjoy the diversity of the Pacific arts expressed through traditional visual arts.

Anytime when visitors just feel like relaxing, there’s the newly opened Coffee Studio Café where they can taste the perfect cup of Kokako coffee or a hot chocolate and enjoy freshly made lunches and snacks from our chef.   Its right next door to the galleries and the gallery shop, where the public can see and buy a range of finely crafted work by some of New Zealand’s leading craft artists. 

As part of this experience, participants can also drop into free workshops and try their hand at a junk art sculpture, a cultural mask, a fabric creature or paint native flora. Additionally, they can see international graffiti artists from TMD (The Most Dedicated) do their magic with spray-cans on the Corbans Wall. 

Open Studio Weekend promises to be an exceptional event, full of fresh and established talent, arts and cultural activities, relaxing spaces and the enjoyable scenery of the historic Corban Winery. This event will be held at Corban Estate Arts Centre in Henderson, Auckland over Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th of March 2013. Find more information on: www.ceac.org.nz

--- ends ---

To find out more about Open Studio Weekend 2013 and Corban Estate Arts Centre’s ongoing activities, programmes and events visit: www.ceac.org.nz. A full Open Studio Weekend programme will be available on our website from early March.

Corban Estate Arts Centre presents three new exhibitions each with influenced by distinct visual cultures, from the Tongan lashing art form, to research into China’s contemporary art scene and a symbol of New Zealand’s colonial identity on display from 1 March to 7 April 2013.

Internationally recognised artist, Sopolemalama Filipe Tohi bases this contemporary exhibition on lalava, the traditional Tongan art form of lashing. Tohi’s exhibition Hau kihe boini - Come to a point, features lalava forms in many materials, including stone, wood and wool. Visitors will be invited to explore lalava by adding to Tohi’s ever changing interactive work throughout the exhibition.

Bonfires of 1986 by Wellington based artist, Kate Woods features a new series of photographs developed on an Asia NZ Foundation residency in Beijing. During the residency Woods investigated the establishment of China’s contemporary art scene focused on the performance art group, Xiamen Dada.  Woods reassembles elements of their infamous artworks into unique photographic arrangements that combine photography, painting and sculpture.

In LAST, West Auckland based artist Jason Hall carves pickets out of marble to honour his uncles lost in World War I.  Hall works with the picket fence to examine the colonial identity of being Pakeha. Hall will give a tour of Opanuku Bridge, his public artwork based on local picket traditions as part of his artist talk on Saturday 16 March, 11am.

All three artists will present a variety of exhibition talks for the public. Visit www.ceac.org.nz for further details.

An exhibition on at the Gus Fisher Gallery, which combines art and science, will give the public a rare chance to view matter up close. Art of the Invisible: Exploring the invisible world of nanotechnology presents images from graduate students, who do research in the field, revealing magical pictures of science at a microscopic level.

Nanotechnology is the science of manipulating matter at an atomic and molecular scale and has far-reaching applications. Art of the Invisible presents this incredible field of study, in a new artistic context, and depicts the unexpected unworldly beauty found in these fascinating scientific images.

The students’ work on display is also in competition for the best nanotechnology image and the winner will receive a prize of $1,000. Second prize takes $700 and third prize will be awarded $300.

“The exhibition is a marvellous opportunity to highlight the beauty and power of the nano world through microscopic imaging” says Linda Tyler, Director of the Gus Fisher Gallery.”

The exhibition is organised by the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and is being held in conjunction with AMN6: the Sixth International Conference on Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, to be held at The University of Auckland Business School, from 11-15 February.

Art of the Invisible: Exploring the invisible world of nanotechnology opens on Friday 8 February at 6pm at the Gus Fisher Gallery, 74 Shortland Street and runs until 20 February.

Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu’s latest exhibition 'De Lautour / Greig / Hammond', featuring new works of art from leading Canterbury practitioners Tony de Lautour, Jason Greig and Bill Hammond, opens at the Gallery’s Madras Street space tomorrow.

Gallery director Jenny Harper says the exhibition provides an exciting opportunity for the three highly-respected, local artists to show their latest works.

“It has been a particularly challenging two years for these artists, with the loss of studio space and limited opportunities and venues for them to exhibit. So the Gallery is pleased to offer this chance for Christchurch gallery-goers to see new work by three artists with strong ties to Canterbury, where they have all trained and worked for many years.”

The new works exhibited in De Lautour / Greig / Hammond include a selection of De Lautour’s recent geometric abstract paintings, Greig’s exquisitely executed dreamscape monoprints and photo-relief montages and a stunning new painting by Hammond, featuring his iconic morphed birds inhabiting a primeval, subterranean landscape.

“It has been an absolute treat for me to engage with new work by these artists,” says Gallery curator Peter Vangioni.

“Hammond’s painting Goods and Services. Triptych is both beautifully traditional and utterly sumptuous, while the large scale of Greig’s latest monoprints, including ‘Farewell Italica… say goodnight Gracie’, is truly impressive. And De Lautour’s large painting, ‘Central Planning’, is an great example of his recent investigations into geometric abstraction and provides a fascinating counterpoint to his earlier work.”

De Lautour / Greig / Hammond offers an exciting opportunity for Christchurch residents to enjoy the new works in a fitting setting.

The exhibition will run from Saturday 2 February until Sunday 10 March 2013.

For more information visit www.christchurchartgallery.org.nz

Here's your chance to let your imagination go and your creativity flow with a series of free public sculpture events over two upcoming weekends.

Mary Whalley, an artist and teacher, will be holding a two-day sculpture event at the Jack Ilott Green, by Civic Square, on 26 and 27 January, and in Glover Park on 23 and 24 February.

Mary aims to encourage people to take ownership of their public spaces. She says she wants people to make artworks that they would like to see in their local parks. "I hope this project will open up a discussion about the politics and possibilities of public art."

A sculpture table will be set up and people will be able make their own temporary sculptures on the Saturday, which will then go on display on the Sunday. She held one of these successful weekend events in Aro Valley last year.

"Altogether, about 30 sculptures were made over the weekend. Aro Valley has such a strong sense of community. They really utilise their park; people really enjoyed sitting down and making something together."

Mary's project is supported by Wellington City Council through the Public Art Fund.

"Funding is crucial for providing quality material for people to make their sculptures, which is expensive, and therefore removing barriers to participation and ensuring we create sculptures participants are pleased with ," she says.

Mary says the temporary nature of the works and how they're created is important.

"It's maybe something to counteract the large bronze statues that are permanent. It's temporary - like an 'urban sandcastle'. I also like the way people have to give something of themselves and have to take a participatory role."

If you'd like to take part and make your own temporary sculpture come down to the Jack Ilott Green, by Civic Square, between 10am and 3pm on 26 January, or to Glover Park between 10am and 3pm on 23 February. Sculptures will be displayed on the Sunday 27th and 23rd onsite at the respective parks.

CREATIVE COMMUNITIES NEW ZEALAND LOCAL ARTS FUNDING SCHEME

Are you involved in an arts project, festival, performance or running workshops?

If so, Creative Communities NZ and the Napier City Council invite you to apply for arts funding in its March 2013 funding round. Funding is available for individuals, groups and organisations for local projects and events that directly benefit the residents of Napier City.

For further information and application forms visit Napier or Taradale Public Libraries, Creative Napier office (Community House, Raffles Street, Napier, phone 835 9448) or contact the Scheme Administrator, Community Development Department, Napier City Council (phone 834 4181, email belindam@napier.co.nz).

View full details about funding

March Funding round opens 25 January 2013 and close 4.30pm 22 February 2013. No late applications will be considered.

Antoinette Campbell
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Jon Bywater, a well-known art critic and senior lecturer at Elam Art School has accepted the challenge to judge the 2013 National Contemporary Art Award hosted by Waikato Museum.

Waikato Museum Director Cherie Meecham is pleased with the appointment.

“Jon Bywater is a thinker, a writer and a judge with a strong arts background and we are excited about working with him this year,” she says.

“The judge’s role is critical to the final outcome of the award. Through elimination, it is the judge who curates the award, shaping the final exhibition as well as choosing the ultimate winners and we are very confident of Jon’s ability.”

Bywater has links with the Waikato having been a Critical Studies lecturer at Wintec and was Head of Theory at UNITECH School of Design.  He is the New Zealand reviewer for Arts Forum International and has a sustained involvement as a columnist for a number of arts and music magazines including the Listener and Art New Zealand. He is a board member for Artspace Auckland and the New Zealand Audio Foundation.

The National Contemporary Art Award is in its twelfth year at Waikato Museum and the museum is currently seeking a sponsor for the award. Last year the award was sponsored by arts philanthropist Barry Hopkins, who along with other key members of the Waikato Society of Arts initiated what we now know as the National Painting and Printmaking Award, and the National Contemporary Art Award.

“We are seeking a sponsor who shares our vision to keep the vibrancy of fine arts alive,” says Ms Meecham.

Entry numbers have continued to grow for the award and part of the criteria is that entrants must live in New Zealand. Entries will open for the 2013 National Contemporary Art Award on 15 February and close 3 May. The winner and three merit award winners will be announced at a gala opening on 16 August.

For more information visit www.waikatomuseum.co.nz/NCAA

Hairy Maclary and friends are making their way to Hamilton. Lynley Dodd: A Retrospective opens on Saturday 26 January at Waikato Museum.

Hairy Maclary may be an international character but it is creator, Dame Lynley Dodd who is the magic behind these stories and this exhibition. Lynley Dodd: A Retrospective is a celebration of the work of this prolific author and illustrator of children’s books. The first of these original works dates back to school days and the most recent, Slinky Malinki Early Bird published in July 2012.

Waikato Museum Director, Cherie Meecham has collaborated with Tauranga Art Gallery to bring the exhibition to Hamilton.

“For those of us who have grown to know and love Lynley Dodd’s lively characters and her energetic alliterative verse, this is a special treat,” she says.

“Visitors will see original drawings of Dodd’s characters and gain a unique insight into the process of designing and writing children’s picture books.”

The popular exhibition, curated by Tauranga Art Gallery Director Penelope Jackson, has recently had a second successful showing in Tauranga where Dodd lives.

Dodd began her career in children’s books in 1973 when she worked with Eve Sutton to illustrate My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes before writing and illustrating her own books, The Nickle Nackle Tree and Titimus Trim.

In 1983, Dodd produced the first series of books to feature that unkempt dog, Hairy Maclary. Since then, much of Dodd’s work has revolved around the canine rogue-hero and his sidekicks. Dodd’s characters and their memorable rhymes have become internationally known: Hairy Maclary, Bitzer Maloney all skinny and bony, Schnitzel von Krumm with a very low tum, Bottomley Potts covered in spots, Muffin McLay like a bundle of hay, Hercules Morse as big as a horse, and every suburb’s fiend, Scarface Claw, the toughest Tom in town.

Lynley Dodd: A Retrospective is at Waikato Museum from 26 January until 24 March 2013. Admission is free.

Dame Lynley Dodd will visit Waikato Museum for a book signing and public interview session on Saturday 2 February and visitors can enjoy story reading sessions every Saturday at 2pm for the duration of the exhibition. For more information visit www.waikatomuseum.co.nz

Lynley Dodd: A Retrospective was developed by Tauranga Art Gallery and is toured by Exhibition Services.

Applications for financial assistance by way of grants under the Creative Communities Local Arts Scheme are now being invited by Marlborough District Council.

The scheme supports and encourages local communities to create and present diverse opportunities for accessing and participating in arts activities within the Marlborough community.

Application forms, along with details of eligibility and criteria, are available at Council offices, the library and on Council’s website www.marlborough.govt.nz/Our-Community/Grants-and-Awards.

Applications close 5.00 pm, 28 February 2013.