Stone of the month - Aquamarine

Uncut Aquamarine

This month's birthstone is Aquamarine, from Latin meaning 'water of the sea'. It is so named because of it's sea water colour.  It's pale blue colouring is a result of the Iron content, and is a variety of  Beryl.  Aquamarine deposits are mainly found in Brazil and Russia, with the largest aquamarine found in Marambaia, Brazil, in 1910, weighing over 110 kg!

Rings by Barry Clarke featuring handcut Aquamarine, sterling silver and 18ct gold.

BC973 - Grooved Band

BC964 - Flat Band

Scott McFarlane at Whitespace

Scott McFarlane in the Weekend Herald, 17.03.12

 Scott McFarlane is currently exhibiting his paintings at Whitespace in Auckland, in a show entitled 'Fever'.  The show was featured in the Saturday New Zealand Herald on the 17th March, in which T.J McNamara had the following to say:

There are two shows at Whitespace where, in the front gallery, Scott McFarlane has paintings where multi-coloured figures and fragments of figures are brushed in strongly against a background where the mark of the brush strongly supported the dancing movement of the shapes.  A typical work is Frontier Society, where a strong horizon divides two groups of figures held together by a stomping dance rhythm.  Other work is more explicit and the lighting more dramatic.   Wings of Desire is notable for a glowing light effect and winged guide that supports a figure through dark and rocky places.  The figure is too general to be called an angel, but the effect is graceful and suggests a state of mind rather than a narrative drama.  Although the technique is similar in all except the closely worked and almost abstract Substance of Being, the states of mind suggested are varied from the ordinary life of Lipstick Index to the visionary Man with the Golden Arm. It is a lively and thoughtful show.  

Bronwynne Cornish - Consulting the Oracle

Our gallery space has been transformed by Bronwynne Cornish for her show Consulting the Oracle. The Oracles stem from a body of work that Bronwynne begun in Delhi, at an artist's residency at Sanscritti in 2006.

India has one of the highest rates of potters per capita and the majority of these are village potters, making local deities out of clay. The first Oracle was made for the show 'Lugosi's Children' at Object Space in Auckland and as I gathered more mirrors others followed.  I think of the accumulated faces behind the mirrors, all the people who have looked into them over the years. What were they looking for? What did they see? Look into the mirror and a question may come and maybe, even an answer found.  In uncertain times we pursue unusual ways.

Bronwynne Cornish
2012

Oracle with Jackal - Bronwynne Cornish

 The exhibition runs until the 17th of March, and features an 'Oracle Box', where you can consult the oracles and find answers to questions on love, fate, destiny, health, wealth or prosperity.

Baby Owl on Stump - Bronwynne Cornish

Paul Maseyk at the Wellington City Gallery

Paul Maseyk has a collection of  his highly decorated vessels as well as a series of imperfect works, as part of 'The Obstinate Object: Contemporary New Zealand Scultpture' at the Wellington City Gallery.  The exhibition is running until the 10th June, and blends object art with performance by some of  "New Zealand’s most compelling artists". A statement on Paul's installation can be found here.

Bronwynne Cornish - Consulting the Oracle

Dilana Workshop

Maquettes for the Floor - A spontaneous collection of miniature rugs by Dilana Workshop

24 February - 17 March 2012

At the start of November Dilana Workshop invited seven artists to design miniature rugs drawing on 1000+ colours from the Christchurch workshops yarn stock. A selection from this collection is available to view & purchase in our upstairs gallery.

Richard Killeen - Orange Plane

Richard Killeen - Bomber

Moveable Feast

Ann Culy - Boulder Opal

'Moveable Feast', new works by  Dunedin based jeweller, Ann Culy, begins today and is on display in the jewellery section until March 10.  Ann has given us an outstanding range of pieces that convey movement through form and colour, using 22ct & 24ct gold, as well as a selection of stones that capture and move light..

I have always been facinated how jewellery becomes animated with the life of movement on the body . Some of these stones, gathered over the years have that deep internal life, I love to give them the form releasing them to play in the world. 

Ann Culy, 2012

Ann Culy - Ring with Bead

Ann Culy - Moonstone Pool

Ann Culy - Ring on Ring

Pauline Bern - Colonial Goose

'Rosa Myosotidium'
9ct gold,
 (photo by Haruhiko Sameshima)

'Rhopalostylis Prunus'
stg silver, nikau nut, ink, rose thorn, cable
(photo by Haruhiko Sameshima)

Holiday Hours

24 December 2011 - 04 January 2012

Saturday 24 December open 10 - 4 pm

Closed 25 December 2011 to 3rd January 2012 inclusive

Reopen Wednesday 4 January 2012 , resuming normal hours

(Mon - Fri 10 - 6pm, Saturday 10 - 3)

Janet Green wins award

Janet Green has won the Wairarapa Review with her piece, 'Conversation'. This is a selected exhibition that is open to artists living in the Wairarapa and is the second time she has won it.  You can view the winning piece at the Aratoi Museum in Masterton.

'Conversation' by Janet Green

John Parker Christmas Stock

John has kindly sent us a shipment of his work just in time for Christmas. The red and white is very festive, and perfect as a gift or to display some freshly cut flowers.

Bronwynne Cornish - New Stock

We are delighted to have some new 'Niads' from Bronwynne Cornish in stock.  Also look out for some new Owl Jugs in the comming week.  The new Hoot Owl Jugs have now arrived, along with some Nativity Rabbits , that Bronwynne has made especially for the season. 

Paul Maseyk - Maquette

Paul Maseyk's show 'Maquette' is the last exhibition for the year.  Paul has given us a fantastic show to see the year out; he has used the "Shelf Show" concept to experiment, and develop a range of small, intriguing  sculptures.  Calling the show "Maquette" indicates an intention to develop larger works from these forms.  These forms are works of art in themselves, exuding a huge amount of character.  The show will be on until the 10th of December.

 

Emma Camden - The Girl Inside my Head

Today is the last day of our current shelf show, 'The Girl Inside my Head', featuring four beautiful pieces of cast glass by Emma Camden.  These sculptural works are inspired by the memories of a friend, and provided an opportunity for Emma to try some new experimental designs.  

Emma Camden, 'Hollow'

 

Emma Camden, 'Chaos'

Emma Camden, 'Light '

Emma Camden, 'Flyer'

See Carolyn Enting's article about Steph Lusted in today's Dominion Post, or online at http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/fashion/5928457/Jeweller-finds-beauty-in-death

Birth, Life and Death: Jeweller Steph Lusted creates miniature masterpieces

An absinthe glass and spoon set, an opium poppy necklace with syringe brooch, and a tagua nut realisation of a da Vinci sketch comprise this fantastic new exhibition by Wellington jeweller Steph Lusted.  In her spare time (Steph is working full time for Weta Workshops) she has created these miniature sculptures, exquisitely carved and presented in museum-like display cases.  See them now in our Jewellery gallery

Fascinating work from visiting French sculptor Vincent Gontier

A very special exhibition for a very short time only, this selection of small "sketches"  are made of compressed newspaper and steel.  Gontier is in New Zealand on an exchange project sponsored by the village of La Tour du Pin, in which he visits New Zealand, and AVID artist Johnny Turner then visits France .  See our website for more images.


While Vincent was at AVID he took this picture of the Saturday team (from left: Anna, Sharon and Dorothy.)

New Joanna Campbell Cuffs and Brooches

Joanna has sent us some fun new lace embossed cuffs, that are made from anodised aluminium.  Perfect for a summer outing.  Also new from Joanna are some stunning antique lace brooches.  The lace in each brooch  is suspended in a silver ring, giving it strength as well as highlighting its' dellicate nature.

New Richard Parker Work

We have just received thirty new Richard Parker signal dishes and two stunning vases.  Now is the time to come in if you would like to add some fantastic new designs to your collection.

Richard Parker - Signal Dish

Richard Parker - Signal Dish

Richard Parker - Signal Dish

RED - by John Parker Opening Tonight

RED is opening tonight!   Come in from the rain and meet John in person from 5.30 pm - 7.00 pm.