Coromandel Life Magazine 2015 Winter V3

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Jane Parson (centre), trustee of the Mercury Bay Art Escape Trust, presents two first places for
the People’s Choice Award: Martinus Sarangapany for his intriguing sculpture ‘Kaleidoscopic
Reliquary’ and Christine Bannan for her charcoal drawing of a NZ Dotterel and her chick. They
both won vouchers from the Gordon Harris art store.
ARTScene
ART, ARTISTS AND TOUR ALL WINNERS AT THIS YEAR’S
Mercury Bay Art Escape
This year’s 46-studio Mercury Bay Art
Escape was loaded with top prize
winners. At the launch party, held in March
at Hot Waves Cafe, the tour’s artists cast
their votes for their favourites.
Winner was Paula
McNeill for her
unique abstract
‘Stepping through
Time’. The crowd
had a laugh as she was presented with
her prize – a gift certificate from her own
gallery! The Little Gallery of Fine Arts in
Tairua – and given to her by her daughter
(and current gallery owner) Sarah Holden.
The 55 works by the tour artists remained
in the cafe’s gallery, attracting views and
collecting votes. Whose work would be the
People’s Choice? This was the first time
voters produced a tie for top.
Winners, both from Hahei, were Christine
Bannan with her charcoal drawing
‘Charadrius obscurus Northern NZ Dotterel’
and Martinus Sarangapany with his
interactive work ‘Kaleidoscopic Reliquary’,
a clay sculpture housing a kaleidescope
and a bound book of drawings, ‘The
Gateway To Infinity’.
Second place went to Anna Kitchingman
of Cooks Beach for her painting ‘Te Hoho’,
with third to Hahei’s Becs Wood for
‘Sandy’s Swing’, a drawing framed in a
recycled window frame.
TOUR ITSELF SETS RECORDS
The overall winner, however, was the tour
itself. This was the best year ever, with as
many as 2800 studio visits in one day – up
30% from 2014, and an increase of visitors
from outside the region, which benefited
everyone. It is estimated that sales figures
of existing artworks – and orders for future
commissions – were up 50%.
Plans for the 2016 Open Studio Tour
are already in place, with the launch at
Hot Waves Café Friday 4 March; Tour
weekends March 5-6 and 12-13. New
member applications will be called for in
July so watch the website for upcoming
news
On July 4, don’t miss the award winning
production of “The Bookbinder” in
Whitianga. This intriguing production –
with shadows, puppets, and paper work
– swept the awards at the NZ Fringe. The
play is suitable for all ages.
Classical music fans, mark 18 September
on your calendar for the the string/cello/
piano ensemble, NZ Trio at right. November
features the lively Miho’s Jazz Orchestra.
Creative connections...
Check the Creative Mercury Bay website
often, for its pages offer valuable listings
to connect with arts organisations and
professional performers, teachers/mentors
in all areas of the fine and performing arts.
“Need a ukulele band? Or perhaps a poet?”
asks Jan Wright, Chair and Coordinator.
“This is where you’ll find them! We maintain
an arts events calendar, and All Mercury
Check out what’s happening at...
Milly’s on Main 078647464
236 Main Road in Tairua
KAYLA 078689063
522 Pollen Street in Thames
Watch for our Fashion Parade coming soon!
Bay arts groups receive a free listing in the
‘Arts and Culture Organisations’ section of
the website. These listings instantly create
a web presence for even the smallest arts
organisation, making it possible, with the
click of a mouse, for potential members to
connect with like-minded people.”
Creative Mercury Bay – It’s the place to go
for everything arts related.
See
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