A line written by one of New Zealand’s most acclaimed poets has provided the inspiration for the newest exhibition at Queenstown’s Te Atamira.
Hone Tuwhare’s poem Rain has been used by noted printmakers Kyla Cresswell, Catherine Macdonald, Prue MacDougall and Nan Mulder to spur their exhibition, ‘small holes in the silence’, opening at the arts and culture centre tomorrow, which showcases their individual explorations of environments, atmosphere and language.
The exhibition incorporates etching, drypoint, mezzotint, drawing, artist books, intaglio photopolymer and silverpoint.
Te Atamira director Olivia Egerton says individually the artists’ works are distinctive; collectively they combine to form a study on using drawing, mark-making and process to create their images.
She describes the exhibition as an ‘‘exceptional showcase and celebration of the fine art of printmaking’’ and ‘‘a visual feast for the eye’’.
‘‘These artists are dedicated to the process; a meditation itself from the marks, tones and lines made into various matrices.
‘‘Almost wholly handprinted, a conceptual dimension is added as they respond to Tuwhare’s poem alongside the themes of their current practice.’’
The exhibition runs till April 14 — concurrently there’ll be several events, beginning with an opening floor talk with the artists tomorrow from 3pm.
Additionally, on Sunday from 10am, Macdonald will deliver a book-binding workshop and host a discussion session with local writers on artist-writer collaborations, then, at 1.30pm, Mulder will demonstrate the mezzotint process and discuss her practice before MacDougall hosts a stone-printing workshop from 2pm.
On April 13 from 10am, Cresswell’s hosting an intaglio drypoint workshop using recycled resources.
Macdonald and Cresswell’s workshops cost $120 to attend, MacDougall’s workshop costs $45, while Mulder’s demonstration’s free to attend.
For further info, or to book, visit teatamira.nz
