September news from Wall to Wall Art
Summer's on the way
Raspberry Dessert, by Gill Saunders.
Welcome to the September newsletter.
Guest artists
Gill Saunders
Double WOW Supreme Award winner Gill Saunders waits out the leadup to the year’s show with a small exhibition of historic work in the guest area of Wall to Wall during the month of September.
Flos Coleoptera, by Gill Saunders.
When asked about this year’s WOW entry, she was tight-lipped. There’s a ban on talking about the work until the judging has been done, so she said everyone would have to wait until opening night to see what the work looks like and for her to find out if she’s had success in the final awards.
At Wall to Wall during September, she’ll be showing a complete costume - Bearded Lady, accompanied by a flea circus and parrot.
The work inspired her to write a book in 2013, it’s long since sold out, but she’ll have a copy on show along with various other merchandise associated with the work.
Assemble your own Bearded Lady and parrot.
Also on show during September will be various other embroidered and stitched flora and fauna by Gill Saunders.
Mary-Jane Steffens
Young Kiwi, by Mary-Jane Steffens.
MJ has been prolific lately. In addition to her portraits, which continue for another ten days on the feature wall at the front of the gallery, she continues with her theme of native birds in the guest artist area.
There are new original pieces but there are also authentic giclée fine art prints available in A4 limited editions, A5 and A6. The prints are acid, lignin and chlorine free, 100% cotton paper using archival pigment inks.
Mags Meechang
Changing Light Kowhai, mixed media, by Mags Meechang.
Mags continues with her theme of “sunshine, colour, movement, laughter and people being happy”.
Jeanette Brough
Te Waikoropupu Springs, by Jeanette Brough.
“I’m an abstract artist who loves travelling, shoreline rambles and mountain biking.”
The state of the economy
We’ve gone through a long hard winter, but in a reflection of the quality of the work at Wall to Wall, our sales graph is riding slightly higher than it was a year ago.
After talking to other small businesses in the area, Wall to Wall’s newsletter editor contributed this opinion piece to the Nelson Leader. Click here.
Future highlights
Tea storage jar, by Hamish Jackson.
Clay Week brings hundreds of people to Nelson from September 28.
As part of our support for the occasion, Wall to Wall will feature a special display of the work of US potters Jack Troy and Hamish Jackson during Clay Week, from September 28 to October 4.
We’ll host an opening in the gallery at 5.30pm on Wednesday October 2, with wine from Riverby Estate. Jack and Hamish will each give a short talk.
For this evening, and for the whole of Clay Week, the gallery will have a far greater than usual volume of people through the doors, so October is a good month to take a guest spot. You’ll have to be quick though, as most of the guest spots are already booked. Call in, or email walltowallartnelson@gmail.com
Gallery highlights
When members are taking their turn on duty in the gallery, visitors often comment on different works.
Starting with our mid-September newsletter, we’ve invited a guest visitor to comment on their favourites, explaining why they like them. If you’d like to have a crack at being an art critic, let us know. For a future newsletter, you can pick your favourite works and tell us why you like them.
In the meantime, your editor had a crack at it last week.
It’s a hard job to pick a few works when there’s so much great art on show, but here’s a few things I liked:
Nicole Russell
Morning Coffee at Java Hut, A4 giclee print, $50, by Nicole Russell.
New prints by Nicole. The original painting had been sold even before it was framed.
Helena Morris
Taking Refuge, encaustic and mixed media, by Helena Morris.
Virginia Watson
Gull Goes By, oil on board by Virginia Watson.
Get the news
If you have comments or news to contribute, please email petergibbs96@gmail.com.
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A message from Art Group Nelson
Join us for our 52nd Winter Exhibition Sept 7-8
We'll have 46 artists' work on display at the exhibition including works in acrylics and oils, watercolours, pastels, pen and ink, coloured pencils, mixed media, fluid acrylics, photography, glass, and clay.
This is part of 'Adventure In Art' hosted by Putangitangi Greenmeadows Centre. Entry is free. We look forward to seeing you there!
