BETHLEHEM COLLEGE ART EXHIBITION
The iconic Bethlehem Art Exhibition has a new home this year at The Cargo Shed in Dive Crescent. Attending on a Saturday afternoon there was a good size crowd and many people commenting that it was a great venue for the exhibition. As usual a varied range of art styles to peruse and to buy as a fundraiser for Bethlehem College. The exhibition runs until September 7th.
Some standout pieces were by:
Barry Dabb A large oil on canvas ‘Crotons – Victoria’s Garden Rarotonga’ Barry has recently had two of his gardenscapes exhibited in New York. They are bold with his raw brush style and you feel like you are in the garden.
Angela Maritz – A large mixed media piece of a seagull in flight.
Val Tubman –A beautiful pastel of white camellias and porcelain vase.
Vicki Axten –‘ Pohutakawa Sunset’ A striking oil on canvas with pohutakawa flower and beautiful greenery.
Murray Stuart – ‘Summertime’ A framed watercolour painting with beach, sea and yachts. A popular scene for our nautical city. His other painting was a similar view but painted in oil on canvas and completely different colourings and quite moody, hence the title ‘Stormclouds’.
There was also some sculptural and wooden pieces including a very simple, beautiful elongated piece by Anna Korver made of Australian hardwood.
Some of the artists had also shown works at The Society of Artists exhibition held at Baycourt the previous weekend. Styles and prices also varied hugely. At that show I saw:
Constanza Briceno’s acrylics that had an architectural abstract feel to them, Barbara Lewis had a finely detailed painting of draught horses, Noeline Grant’s red boat was eyecatching and Nancy Frazer’s very finely detailed acrylic and ink works had the look of lace combined with iconic New Zealand images.
My favourite was a watercolour by Nick Eggleston – Mr Shagnasty. Nick paints such detailed paintings of dogs, birds and more but always with a twist and wry sense of humour.
