This Enchanted World: the work of Turnbull, Maritz & Collier

Creative Bay of Plenty Community Gallery is showing the diverse work of three local, female artists: Liz Turnbull, Angela Maritz and Megan Collier until 28^th November 2016.

It’s early evening in Downtown Tauranga on the 4^th November 2016, the day of the opening of this combined exhibition. I’ve been to many openings and events at Creative Bay of Plenty and the presentation and style of this exhibition is exemplary. The exhibition is beautifully curated and hung in artist focused clusters so you can absorb the work of the individuals. New ceiling spotlights around the gallery have completely changed the ambiance.

It’s a particularly stylish crowd, many of the guests I do not know – friends of the artists? New Creative Bay of Plenty General Manager Lena Kovacs is there.

Josh Durning, youthful guitar maestro, adds to the cosmopolitan style of the event and, seated at the “head” of the gallery, unperturbed by the conversation, just plays.

The food, also provided by the artists, is another testament to their individual styles and creativity. There is a large traditionally-shaped mold of pate, decorated as an individual work with contrasting embellishments – it tastes as good as it looks. In the middle of the gallery is a table with another creative display. There are platters of beautifully presented “pickled” asparagrus accompanied by gourmet homemade dips and mayonnaise. There is a patchwork of cracker styles. My eye is taken by a platter of uniquely shaped “crackers” dressed with avocado.

The asparagus and accompaniments are the creation of artist Angela Maritz and exemplify her work and personal style. The handmade crackers were created by Megan Collier. I ask both artists for the recipes – Megan’s cracker recipe will be at the end of this review.

I generally like to go back to exhibitions after openings to see the work without the bobbing heads and excited chatter. I haven’t done this yet but I don’t think my initial perceptions will change.

Creative Bay of Plenty Trust Chair, Marcus Wilkins opens the exhibition. An endearing part of the opening is the presentation of the Jann Medlicott Creative Arts Award to art student Kay Tasma by Jann Medlicott and Margot McCool of the Acorn Foundation – it’s a presentation of “cash” and greatly appreciated by the charming and articulate young woman who later speaks with me.

This exhibition will be running in association with and references the Bay of Plenty Garden & Art Festival which starts later this week. It’s a wonderful exhibition of differing styles and so appropriately titled as “This Enchanted World”. It is a gentle and enjoyable exhibition and I felt privileged to share the work of the three artists.

The beautiful work exhibited by Liz Turnbull is visually moody and evocative, softly painted and suggestive – it instantly reminds me of Turner landscapes. It reminds me of rural lands I have lived in. There is something almost “old world” about the work and I’m told Liz has practised her art in Eastern Europe – it shows. It’s what I would call traditional in style. It possesses an overwhelming sense of visual calm. You could have some of these works on your wall and never become tired of looking at them.

By contrast the work of Angela Maritz is contemporary, casual and vibrant. I’ve seen her work previously when Creative Bay of Plenty was “over the road” and enjoyed her playful seagulls. Angela who tells me she is “self-taught” produces impressionist work that you would also always want to have – I see modern, white-walled homes, wide doors opening to the sand and the sea.

The third artist in this all female exhibition is Megan Collier. Megan’s work is totally different – it’s precise, painterly and colour rich. It’s highly decorative – some of the larger works of significant colour I find too definite for my personal taste.

It is interesting then that my favourite works in the exhibition, the ones “I would buy” are the smaller resin coated images just inside the main door. They are the combination of austere linear drawings of buildings in subdued colour each with a band of the precise and graphically definite flowers along the bottom – a total contrast. They are both encased in resin. For reasons I can’t explain I am drawn to this contrast – the buildings reminding me of the work of Andrew Wyeth. Some days later I’m explaining to Murray Clode of Macandmor Gallery how I found these the standouts of the work on display.

And the recipe for those delicious graphic treats:

Vegan Crackers:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup uncooked brown rice
• 1/2 cup uncooked Quinoa
• 4 T ground flax
• 2 T sesame seeds
• 2 T whole flax seeds
• 1-2 T chia seeds
• 1 T water
• 1 t garlic
• Herbs, to taste (dill was fun)
• 1 t tahini
• 1 t sea salt

Directions: Preheat oven to 300F. Cook rice and quinoa according to package directions in two separate small pots. Cool rice and quinoa after cooking. In a food processor, blend together cooked rice, quinoa, ground flax, water, herbs, tahini, salt. Stir in sesame, flax, and chia seeds (or just press them on top of dough like I did in some pictures).

Scoop mixture onto a greased baking sheet (or line with parchment paper). Flatten with wet hands and spread out. Roll with a pastry roller to smooth. Take a pastry cutter (or pizza slicer) and cut dough into desired cracker shapes. Bake in the oven for 35-40 mins. until golden. Watch carefully after 30 mins. to avoid burning the crackers. You might want to flip the crackers half way through cooking. Crackers will also firm up while cooling. Cool for 15 mins. on baking sheet and carefully break apart.

I love these crackers.

They are thick and chewy and oh so good

The work of these three talented artists will on show until the 28^th November 2016 at the Creative Bay of Plenty Community Gallery.

Creative Bay of Plenty, 95 Willow Street, Tauranga 3110

P: 07 928 5270 W: creativebop.org.nz

Creative Bay of Plenty distributes regular emails with information about an eclectic range of events, activities and exhibitions. You can become a Friend of Creative Bay of Plenty and receive this regular information and invitations to openings and events.

Rosemary Balu. Rosemary Balu is the founding and current 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.

Rosemary has recently published Ruamoko: NZ  earth quakes in Enviro and Political Art.  The article includes two of Rosemary’s original poems.

This Enchanted World is one of a number of visually interesting exhibitions you can visit in and around Tauranga.

RARANGA WEAVING: the weaving students of Te Wananga o Aotearoa invite you to view their wonderful creations at their campus 180, 17th Avenue, Tauranga, (opposite the Historic Village). Exhibition times: Monday 14, Tuesday 15 and Thursday 17 November 10am – 3pm. Wednesday 16 November 10am to 8pm.

DAILY VOICES, the work of Viv Davy, Textile Art at the Cottleston Art Gallery,

This exhibition by Taranaki fibre artist Viv Davy is not to be missed. The exhibition is a comprehensive collection of the both the fine weaving and fabric collage of the artist. Compelling social comment in every thread. Review of the exhibition opening is coming!

Cottleston Art Gallery,128 Oropi Road Greerton, 7 -21 November, every day 11am – 4.30pm

P: 020 478 3337 W: cottlestongallery.blogspot.com

THE TAURANGA ART GALLERY has (as usual) a selection of exhibitions that you should not miss.

FAMILY FUN DAY at the Tauranga Art Gallery 10am to 3pm Saturday 26 NO BOOKINGS REQUIRED. $5. per family + gold coin donation for face painting. Bring your family to enjoy Creation Stations, story telling, an art hunt, and face paintong on this flora-themed fun filled day.

Tauranga Art Gallery Cnr of Wharf & Willow Streets, Downtown Tauranga,

P: 07 578 7933 W: artgallery.org.nz

Bay of Plenty GARDEN & ART Festival, 17^th – 20^th November 2016 the tenth Biennial Garden & Art Festival showcasing Katikati, Tauranga, Mt Maunganui and Te Puke. A new festival format – a four day festival. Garden trails open from Thursday through to Sunday with one or four day ticket options. The Festival Hub at the Lakes with displays, exhibitions, creative concept spaces and so much more check out www.gardenandartfestival.co.nz

ROTORUA MUSEUM:

INNER WORLDS: THE ART & LIFE OF WALTER BAKKENES

to 27^th November 2016 Dutch migrant Bakkenes was part of the post war European migration to New Zealand and a thriving New Zealand arts community.

REMBRANDT REMASTERED

to 20^th November 2016 57 digitally remastered images of the work of Dutch Master Rembrandt Van Rijn

Make sure you take a look at Marcus Hobson’s article and images about these exhibitions in Reviews, Been & Seen: “Rotorua Museum: the Dutch Connection”

COOL & COLLECTED

to 20^th November 2016 Recent acquisitions to Rotorua Museum Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa Collection

Rotorua Museum is open daily, 9am to 6pm (Dec – March) or 9am to 5pm (April – Nov), except Christmas Day. Admission is free for Rotorua residents with proof of residency. Adults $20, Seniors (65yrs+) $18, Children (5-15yrs) $8.

For further information please visit www.rotoruamuseum.co.nz or contact Holly Watene Ph 07 351 8290, Email holly.watene@rotorualc.nz

THE ROTORUA SCULPTURE SYMPOSIUM starts Sunday 19^th November 2016

Wielding chisels, hammers and power tools artists will descend on Rotorua Arts Village Green from Saturday 19 November to transform 25 tonnes of stone and logs into works of art.

Seventeen of New Zealand’s top local and national sculptors have nine days to create pieces of art during the 2016 Sulphur Lakes Sculpture Symposium.

The finished pieces of art become part of Rotorua’s Sulphur Lake Sculpture Trail.

Artists can use all styles; traditional, abstract and contemporary. Their artwork must reflect the theme of ‘The Energy Within,’ capturing Rotorua’s unique geothermal and cultural environment.

If you are visiting the Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty for the Bay of Plenty Garden & Art Festival this week, think about extending you visit and going over to Rotorua to see what’s happening at the Symposium

The Sculpture Symposium is on 8.30am to 4.30pm daily from Saturday 19 to Sunday 27 November at the Rotorua Arts Village Green in the Government Gardens.

For more information go to www.bit.ly/sculptsym

AND FURTHER AFIELD

IN PRAISE OF NIKAU: Botanical Drawings by Christine Hellyar showing at the Miranda Farm Gallery, until 4th December 2016.

The drawings by Christine Hellyar of Nikau and various native plants, foliage and flowers are both visually beautiful and evocative of standing in the cover of our New Zealand bush. Review of the opening of the exhibition is coming!

The Miranda Farm Gallery is part of the organic orchard Miranda Farm. There is a small cafe (not open on Monday and Tuesdays (and occasional Wednesdays), organic produce and wonderful onsite produced preserves and chutneys. On the back roads across the Hauraki Plains this is a wonderful day out. It’s also a wonderful alternative route if you’re a regular traveller between the Bay of Plenty and Auckland.

The Miranda Farm Gallery can be found at 1107 Miranda Road, R.D.3 Pokeno 2473 and is open Thursday to Sunday from 10am – 4pm (Other days by appointment).

P: 09 238 2608 W: mirandafarm.co.nz

TOMEK FRIEDRICH: Art Photographer – Artzentao Photography at the Paeroa Art Gallery until the 26 November 2016. I loved many of these “other worldly” images created by art photographer Friedrich. If you’re going up and down from Tauranga to Auckland make a point of stopping in at Paeroa to look at the exhibition and the other works on show. There is free parking outside the building.

The Paeroa Arts Centre on the main road through the township is housed in the historic Borough Council Building. Apart from unique changing exhibitions the Gallery displays for sale a variety of creativity by local artists and craftspeople.

Paeroa Arts Centre: open Wedneday to Saturday from 11am to 3pm

P: 07 862 7111 W: paeroasocietyofarts.co.nz

F: facebook.com/paeroasocietyofarts