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Galleries host tour artists
Painter Claire Elliot is known for capturing the
silvery platinum and gold sheens of the water and
shoreline in her paintings, a technique she’s been
mastering for years. See for yourself! Although her
home studio overlooks the remote Otama Beach,
for tour weekends in March, she will be greeting art
lovers at Luke’s Kitchen, Café & Gallery.
The newly renovated Gallery & Café, now attached
to Luke’s Kitchen, displays a range of local art, gifts,
retro surfboards and Luke’s Kitchen memorabilia.
The café has great ocean views and pumps out
amazing local Lala coffee, with a wide range of
organic tea selections, fresh sandwiches, and an
assortment of delicious cakes and slices. The new
juice bar will be cranking with all your needs for a
fresh juice or healthy smoothie.
Over the art escape, the Gallery will be open
evenings to allow guests to walk through and
appreciate the art on display while having the
option to be wined and dined at Luke’s Kitchen. Did
someone say ‘pizza’? Live music too!
Be sure to add this gallery to your ‘must
sees’. You can meet Thames painter Jeanne-
Marie Cantereau who will hold ‘open studio’
right in the Society’s gallery airy exhibit
spaces April 11/12 & 18/19. (See more about
her on page 8-9 with our other cover artists.)
The French-born painter specialises in
watercolours – flowers and landscapes
featuring light spacious skies and silvery
water reflections, found even in the
landscapes of the Thames estuary. Ask
about her watercolour classes. See
Jeanne-Marie beams about the the gallery’s
selection of art, curated often to give a
fresh look for repeat visitors: “From brush
to chisel, we offer wonderful displays of
painting, pottery, sculpture, fibre, wood,
ceramics, jewellery...all demonstrating the
creativity of our community.” It is located on
SH25 a bit north of Thames in the historic old
school building.
See
JEANNE-MARIE CANTEREAU
Thames Society of the Arts
Milly’s on Main 078647464
236 Main Road in Tairua
KAYLA 078689063
522 Pollen Street in Thames
CLAIRE ELLIOT
Luke’s Kitchen & Gallery, Kuaotunu
PAULA McNEILL
The Little Gallery of Fine Arts
Paula McNeill, renowned Tairua artist has
a passion for ‘everything art’. A widely
respected painter exhibiting throughout NZ
and overseas, she co-founded the Little
Gallery with Andrea Johnson in 2009. It has
since been purchased by Paula’s daughter
Sarah Holden, now making it a ‘family affair’.
Paula was also instrumental in getting the
MBAE started. Dave Fowell (Eggcentric),
Betty Collings and Jerry Thoma were also
key players. “We had a dream”, remembers
Paula, “to enhance the awareness of the
arts in our area and create a memorable
art experience of diversity, quality and
uniqueness. I feel this has been achieved.”
“MBAE gives artists a real foundation for the
exposure and marketing of their work.” Paula
cites several milestones – going to two
weekends, a hired administrator, making it an
annual event, more than doubling the number
of participating artists, an improved guide –
all leading to vast increases in visitors.
Paula’s studio on Pumpkin Hill will not be
open this year, but she will be ‘in residence’
both weekends at the gallery. Stop by to find
out more about this passion of Paula’s and all
the directions it has taken her. View her new
paintings and see why she is one of the most
popular artists on the peninsula.
While in the gallery, you can see examples of
other gallery artists who will be in their home
studios. Paula knows them all.
See her work on Gallery ad page 4. Also visit
Above: Claire Elliot applies her metallic
look on ‘Matarangi’. See another new
painting, ‘Peninsula Gold’ on p43. Meet
her at Luke’s Café & Gallery below.
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