This afternoon it was to be “the last jam and jar”…a farewell to the former owners of The Black Sheep at Whakamarama.   So ARTbop wants to thank Hugh, Peta and The Black Sheep team for their contribution to the arts, cultural,  music and creative scene of the Western Bay of Plenty.

I first met Peta Clavis with the urbane Marcus Hobson and talented visual creative Birgitt Shannon of ARTbop when we sat at The Black Sheep to discuss the possibility of an art exhibition…. Well much hard work went into what transpired.   The regular Affordable Art & Artisan Fair – original creativity, boutique/gourmet food, local music and local and tourist visitors. 

Depending on the weather or the number of stallholders or how much space a performer wanted once a month the AAAF would take over FOR NOTHING the grounds and building of The Black Sheep.   It could get chaotic so in the end we, the stallholders, would drive in convoy to park our creative chariots other than in the car park in front of the Sheep’s front door.

The large restaurant storeroom/spare room became a shop for stallholders and other creatives.   A variable peppercorn rental was paid.   The room was painted by volunteers as was all the scrounged furniture and shelving –“just paint it white”….it looked amazing.

And the Atrium Gallery. With  help and carpentry skills from the late Dave Foster of the Tauranga Men’s Shed – exhibitions of everything including unique superbly tailored clothing created by one of the stallholders. 

There were good times,  not so good times and amazing times – that’s the way with any venture. But there would have been no venture at all without the good will and community support from Hugh and Peta and then the ongoing hard, hard work of so many. The fabulous Brooke Stinson, Dionne Stanbridge and Peta Clavis discussing fundraiser Bay RainsHugh at Bay Rains fundraiser (I think)

Rosemary Balu. Rosemary Balu is the founding and current Managing Editor of ARTbop.   Rosemary has arts and law degrees from the University of Auckland. She has been a working lawyer and has participated in a wide variety of community activities where information gathering, submission writing, community advocacy and education have been involved. Interested in all forms of the arts since childhood Rosemary is focused on further developing and expanding multi-media ARTbop as the magazine for all the creative arts in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.