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T he natural beauty and lifestyle of the Coromandel has
proven inpirational for artists of all types producing a
wide range of local art including paintings, sculpture, carvings,
pottery, handcrafted wooden furniture, felting and fashion
clothing, flax work, foundry work, and jewellery.
In these to self-guided tours – Mercury Bay Art Escape
in March , and Coromandel Artstour in April – over 75
celebrated and emerging talents have granted access to
their work spaces, offering a compelling behind-the-scenes
glimpse into their artistic processes. This is your opportunity
to talk to artists ‘in person, in their studios’.
The popularity of these self-directed art tours grows each
year, with over 46 studios open for the MBAE and 30 for
Coromandel Artstour. Several days in each area to be
enriched by the area’s finest.
Unique studios take you to remote rugged beach locations,
while others are placed in town. For a few, an airy garage area,
a classic bach, or shed provides a place to craft their pieces,
while others feel comfortable painting on the kitchen floor. A
turet shaped workshop with a view provides inspiration for
one jeweler, while many surround themselves with landscaped
gardens or wild bush.
Where will your tour take you?
11-12 & 18-19 April
10am till 4pm
Ticket Badges $5
Included with purchase of guidebook
7-8 & 14-15 March
10am till 4pm
FREE
Self-Drive Tours
New arts... new artists
The tour artists work in a wide variety of media and styles and this
year the selection has grown – painting, mixed media, pottery, hand
forged knives, jewellery, sculpture, carved wood/bone, glass, mosaic
and more.
New this year are drawings, prints and illustrations from Martinus
Saragapany of Hahei, drawings using natural pigments by Ellen
Jackson of Whitianga, wood creations and furniture by Natasha
Courtney of Hahei, Harakeke weaving by Raewyn Hildreth of Whitianga,
and black and white film photography by Sam Bruce of Whitianga.
Other new artists are listed on the Participants List.
Get a preview of all the artists and buy the guide and tickets to the Friday
Night Artfest at Hot Waves online at
DISCOVER A VARIETY OF ART TREASURES &
MEET THE PEOPLE WHO CREATE THEM...
ART STUDIO TOURS
ON THE COROMANDEL
(See next page)
BOTH TOURS SELL HANDSOME GUIDEBOOKS – SEE TOUR ARTICLES FOR INFO.
COROMANDEL ARTSTOUR
Featuring 46 open studios
The Mercury Bay Art Escape Open Studio Tour showcases the
outstanding artistic talent of 46 established and emerging artists from
Kuaotunu to Tairua on the Eastern Coromandel Peninsula. It is an
opportunity for residents and visitors to take time to meet the artist
in their studio setting, understand the inspiration behind their pieces
and purchase direct. The artists get to enjoy chatting to visitors and
sharing their passion and pleasure in their work.
“We have 12 new artists, and a few studios open last year will not be
on the tour this year”, says MBAE administrator Marion Manson, “so
be sure to purchase the new guidebook and check online for updates.
While on the tour, look for signs and large flags to find the studios.”
Tour launches with Friday night artfest!
Hot Waves Café in Hot Water Beach will again host the official opening
of ‘Taste of the Tour’ Showcase Exhibition on Friday 6 March at 5:30pm.
This popular ‘launch’ party will feature a piece of work from every Art
Escape member (including those not opening their studios to visitors
this year). Most of the artists will attend, so it’s a great time to make
personal connections prior to the studio tour days.
Attendees are treated to fantastic food and superb wines, live music
and a talk by leading New Zealand printmaker Dr. Carole Shepheard,
ex-Professor of Fine Arts at Auckland University. She now lives in
Kawhia where she runs Te Puti Art Studio.
All of the Art Escape’s 52 members will be represented in the
exhibition, which runs until April 6. Work by two young artists,
Cosette O’Connell and Caitlyn Stoyel-Wiggens (they won Art Escape
Scholarships last year), will also be displayed. The 2015 Scholarship
winner Emily Boswell will help and observe the curation and hanging
of the exhibition.
Stay till the end to see who is awarded the ‘Artists Choice Award’,
as voted by the artists themselves. Last year’s winner was Verena
Tagmann’s painting, “A Twist in the Sky”.
Vote for your favourite work for the People’s Choice Award any time
during the exhibition, with winner to be announced at the end of
March. Last year’s winner went to MBAE member Ginney Deavoll for
“First Wave”, acrylic on surfboard.
MERCURY BAY ART ESCAPE
Mercury Bay