Rescued artworks to be exhibited at ArtsPost

An exhibition showcasing art works created by local artists using “recycled or found objects” will soon go on display at ArtsPost.

Displayed at ArtsPost Chartwell Gallery from 1 April-3 May 2010, ‘Rescued’ will showcase innovative and surprising works, from the quirky to the functional, created from recycled, repurposed, salvaged materials and found objects in mixed media work. Amongst the materials will be wood, textiles, metal, glass, plastic and seaweed.

Rescued is the brainchild of ArtsPost retail co-ordinator Marion Manson, who said she “had a vision of curating an exhibition of works using recycled materials”.

“This exhibition will raise questions concerning want versus need, and will highlight the overabundance of choice and manmade products in a commercial society and the waste it produces,” she said.

“It will promote recycling and make viewers rethink what they throw away. Hopefully it will inspire them to make use of waste that they would normally overlook and look at sustainable ways of living.”

Ten established and emerging artists from throughout the greater Waikato will showcase their work in the exhibition, including Hamilton artists Marti Wong, Nancy Caiger, David Lloyd and Shelley Norton; Raglan artists Chris Meek and Rob Kear; Tim Holman of Coromandel; Julie McDonnell of Taupo; Heather Olesen of Morrinsville; and Di Jeffries of Otorohanga.

For more information visit www.artspost.co.nz

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

Marti Wong, Hamilton – metal
Marti Wong has been producing paintings and pastel drawings for 20 years but only began taking his artistic skill seriously when he took up scrap metal sculpture five years ago. He enrolled in a welding course with the view to becoming a tradesman but from the first day he was making his own creations and discovered the joy of transforming scrap into shining metal sculpture. Armed with the knowledge of metallurgy, skills of Iron-mongery and the passion of an artist, he bought his own tools and set up his own workshop. He has been creating, exhibiting and selling his unique metal sculptures ever since.

Chris Meek, Raglan – metal
Chris Meek is a sculptural artist whose background in working with steel goes back as far as the late 80s when he completed an apprenticeship in panel beating. He then went on to produce recycled stainless steel design products and supplies his work to several design stores throughout New Zealand. In 1999, a personalised clock was gifted to President Clinton while he was in NZ for the APEC conference.
Chris has also been producing artwork for the past 5 years, and enjoys collecting and working with recycled materials. These pieces provide inspiration and together with his ideas create the individuality of his work.

Nancy Caiger of Hamilton – assemblage
Nancy was born in Singapore, lived in England for 12 years and has lived Hamilton since 1993.She started painting in water-colours, oils and acrylics in 1994. Since 2003, she has increasingly used collage as a medium to express ideas, enjoying in particular the challenge of creating something new from found objects.
She exhibits regularly, both in group shows as well as in solo exhibitions and has participated in two virtual art exhibitions in Japan and Portugal. In 2004, her collage “Directions to Mondrian’s” was one of New Zealand’s contributions to the International Collage Exhibition in France. Another four of her works were part of an exhibition in Boston, USA alongside works from the International Museum of Collage, Mexico.

Tim Holman of Coromandel – metal
Tim is increasingly working with large pieces using recycled materials and found objects, with his latest sculptural work being exhibited at Waitakaruru Sculpture park as part of their recent Sculpture-in-the-Park Exhibition.

Julie McDonnell of Taupo – mixed media, leather suitcases
Julie is an installation artist with a degree in visual arts from Sydney University. She has recently worked with a collection of artistically modified suitcases and giant rosary beads made from plastic milk bottles.

David Lloyd of Hamilton – wood
David, an artist and creator for many years, has a strong interest in history, particularly family and Hamilton stories. He collects wood from demolition sites and house renovations and his current series of works relates to the Waikato Landscape completed in wood inlays.

Shelley Norton of Hamilton – plastic bags
In 2002 Shelley completed the University of Auckland Bachelor VA at Manukau School of Visual Arts, majoring in Jewellery. She works as a physiotherapist in Hamilton, but continues to engage in the jewellery conversation exhibiting in New Zealand and internationally. Norton’s most recent offshore shows have included the JOC (Jewellery out of Context) and The New Alchemists which recently toured Australia.

Heather Olesen of Morrinsville – Glass
Heather began her creative journey through various mediums including, linen, pottery, leatherwork and metals. It was the sensual and luscious beauty of glass, which truly captured her passion to work with such a challenging medium. She has enjoyed working with glass for over 7 years – lead lighting, glass inlay designs, fusing, casting, coldworking, sandblasting and polishing. Her designs are regularly inspired from man-made textures and nature. She also includes copper and other metals in her designs to accentuate that opposites can be compatible and live in harmony.

Rob Kear of Raglan – seaweed
Rob has lived in the Raglan area for the past 17 years. This year has seen a major career change for him after 20 plus years supporting and running services for people with disabilities in and around the Waikato and King Country area. Rob has always been a person who likes to create things and was taught as a child not to be wasteful of any resource. Rob is involved with a variety of mediums and produces a wide range of creative works, including weaving, painting, sculpting and felting.

Di Jeffries of Otorohanga – textiles
A graduate of Wintec Bachelor of Media Arts, Diane completed textile installations as part of her final year including Candlewick bed spreads. She has a strong interest in creating by stitching and using recycled textiles