Monday, December 10, 2012

Successful show for Merilyn Wiseman

Merilyn Wiseman's shelf show "Echo" has been a runaway success, with only four of these works still available.

Publicity in the Dominion Post and word of mouth amongst the wide ceramics community brought many people in to see these lovely vases, the newest work from this Arts Foundation Laureate.

These vases are appealing in their simplicity and warmth, and look equally at home in contemporary or classic traditional setting.  Visit Merilyn's page on our web site to check out what is still available.


Wood returns to AVID

Dennis Handyside, master craftsman in wood turning and carving, brings a new series of inlaid bowls to AVID.  We have not seen this wood work of this quality for a number of years, and it is a very welcome return to the gallery.

Anna's Retirement Party

Anna Hesp is retiring at the end of the year, and her retirement party on Tuesday was an occasion to say thank you from friends, clients and artists alike, who paid tribute to her long service at AVID.  Many sent messages of support and thanks, which were read out on the night.  Anna has been a stalwart of AVID, especially the jewellery area, and she will indeed be missed.

Below are some of the friends who gathered to farewell her.  Anna is in the centre of the centre top image, in her orange kimono.


Comings and goings at AVID

Welcome to our lovely gallery assistant Sharon's baby girl. Samantha Robyn Louise arrived in the early hours of Sunday 25th November.


Sharon is concentrating on being a mother for a while, and Katie Russell is helping out in the gallery until Sharon returns to work in March next year.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Blair Smith

Sadly we have heard that Blair Smith, one of Dunedin's well known jewellers passed away yesterday, after a long illness.  Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. 

Blair has been represented at AVID for around twenty years, and his work is still popular today, as it was when he first began making.  His wry political and cultural observations and concerns were expressed with great charm, even humour, and his unique style in brooches, rings, earrings and necklaces will be very much missed.

Blair made a series of brooches called Crowded Hearts, which have become emblematic of his work.  They seem a fitting symbol to remember him by.


Thursday, October 11, 2012

Karearea wins Bird of the Year

Last week we received five new bird sculptures by Martin Carryer - one of these was the Karearea (pictured).  By coincidence, we learn that this beautiful bird has won the Forest and Bird title of "Bird of the Year".
At 470mm high by 470mm wide, carved in kauri and kahikatea, he is for sale for $2250.
http://www.avidgallery.co.nz/mc002-falcon/

Monday, October 1, 2012

Emma Camden - Filling the void


Emma Camden
Filling the Void
6 - 17 October 2012
You are warmly invited to meet Emma at the opening; 
Tuesday 6 October,  5.30 - 7.00pm

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Scott McFarlane - Exhibition Opening Tonight

Scott McFarlane's exhibition of his latest work, "The pictures of the past change their meanings fast" opens tonight at 5.30pm.  Come along and have a glass of wine, meet Scott and view the 400 tiles that are now hanging in our upstairs gallery.

(Click on images below to view larger)








Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Barry Clarke - Sea Songs


Barry Clarke
Sea Songs
8 - 22 September 2012

You are warmly invited to view Barry's lastest collection of jewellery based on his time working in the merchant navy.  It will be on display in the AVID Jewellery from Saturday 8th September. 

Scott McFarlane - Exhibition opening next week


Scott McFarlane
The pictures of the past change their meaning fast
11 - 22 September 2012

You are warmly invited to meet Scott at the 
artist's preview, in our upstairs gallery
Tuesday 11th September 2012 from 5.30 - 7.00pm.  

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Ken Clark 1922 - 2012

"Ken Clark, who has died aged 89, was among the leading ceramicists of his generation. His strengths included a sure feel for shape when designing solid objects such as candlesticks; masterly ability in imparting a particular hue to a glaze; and sureness of touch in applying a design to ceramics then firing.
Among his greatest triumphs was recreating the red lustre used a century earlier by the potter-novelist William De Morgan. This arose from a commission for red tiles by the film director Michael Winner. Clark went on to fathom the secrets of De Morgan’s other glazes, including those of Islamic origin which had been almost completely lost between the late Middle Ages and De Morgan’s rediscovering them in the 1870s." Link
 Avid Gallery was privileged to exhibit his work in 2004.  We remember him with great affection and admiration. 

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

David Holmes - Circus

David Holmes new work entitled 'Circus' is up in AVID Jewellery, and looking beautiful. Here is what David has to say about the process behind this series of work:

In the process of making the jewellery for this focus exhibition I have rediscovered the wonders of the traditional art of cuttlefish casting. First you carve your image into the soft cuttlefish bone, then you pour molten silver into the bone leaving the image of the carving behind and a natural wave patterning on its surface from the texture of the cuttlefish itself. The hot metal burns out the bone as it hardens so you can only use it once. This means if you don't get everything right you have to start the process all over again.
I love the mysterious mood I managed to get with my circus figures by using this method of casting. I made the chains to hang the figures and hold this mood by creating different sized and shaped links, manipulating each link individually and then bringing them together to make abstract patterns along the chain's length. This gives the diverse links of the chain a sense of unity. The chains and figures could stand alone as the brooches do but putting them together gives the performers something to work with - something to hold on to and to fly from.
I hope you enjoy wearing them.
 David Holmes
Dunedin, July 2012



John Parker - Negatives Positives



John Parker's latest show, Negatives Positives has been very successful, with many collectors delighted at being able to add some new shapes and a new glaze to their collections.  It is not too late however, there is still a handful of amazing pieces left, if you are wanting to add to, or start your John Parker collection.  We also have official John Parker Orb tee-shirts for sale in a variety of sizes.  They are printed on 100% organic, pre-shrunk 160 GSM cotton, and retail for $59.


Tuesday, June 26, 2012

New work in gallery

A selection of great new work that has come into the gallery recently:

Merilyn Wiseman - Echoware Vase, Large

Merilyn Wiseman - Echoware Vase, Medium


Richard Parker - Pasta Bowls
Layla Walter - Apricot Camelia Bowl



John Roy - Digging Holes


John Roy 

Digging Holes

19 - 30 June

AVID Gallery would like to introduce a new ceramic artist to the stable; John Roy.
John trained at Wanganui Polytechnic, graduating in 1997 with a Bachelor in Fine Arts majoring in ceramics.
Since then he has become a prominent New Zealand ceramicist who as Greg Donson said "has determinedly stuck with ceramics and successfully pushed the boundaries of the medium and over the last few years, has also created multi-part works that have occupied spaces in unexpected way". Based in Tauranga, John creates work that revolves around iconic forms and the social memory built around them.

Friday, June 15, 2012

By popular demand... more delightful Dilana Rug "Maquettes"




Last time we had these "maquettes" (a series of small rugs by Dilana's illustrious stable of artists ) they sold out.  We have been lucky enough to secure a new batch from Dilana.  All great designs including work by Richard Killeen, Bing Dawe, Fane Flaws and Martin Poppelwell, at very affordable prices.  See also the full size runner by Richard Killeen.  http://www.avidgallery.co.nz/dilana-rugs/

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Paul Maseyk Exhibition - opening night

Paul Maseyk's new exhibition "Naked" had a fun and successful opening at AVID on Tuesday night. Paul was there, and many of his admirers and collectors of his work came along to see the new work.






See more details of the show at http://www.avidgallery.co.nz/paul-maseyk-naked/

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Paul Maseyk - Naked

'Naked', Paul Maseyk's exhibition of new work will be opening on Tuesday 29th May at 5.30pm and will run through to June 16.


Monday, April 23, 2012

Emily Siddell & Stephen Bradbourne

Emily Siddell - Crocheted Black Wire & Fused Glass
 'Link' a collaborative show by Emily Siddell and Stephen Bradbourne is on until the 28th April.  The exhibition features sole work as well as collaborative pieces by Emma and Stephen; where Stephen has blown glass vessels around Emily's beaded forms.
"Both of our separate practices share similar concerns - The adornment of objects,   surface decoration, detailed repeat pattern and intricate linear assemblage. These new collaborative pieces demonstrate and explore the links between our individual techniques and ideas.
Blown murrine vessels incorporate detailed linear decoration as an integral part of the work.
Fine crocheted kete utilise a mesh like wire structure with glass adornment applied as a separate exterior layer.
The new beaded bowls have a wire and glass adornment that is partially fused onto the surface during the blowing process, creating an interplay between the surface decoration and the clear glass vessel."
Emily Siddell & Stephen Bradbourne, 2012
Emily Siddell & Stephen Bradbourne - Beaded Vessels
Stephen Bradbourne - Murrine Leaf