Justin Reichs - Shades of Green

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.

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/

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/

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.

Rainer Beneke - Good As Gold

Rainer Beneke Rings L-R: 22ct Gold w. 0.502ct Diamond, 22ct Gold w. 9 Rubies, 22ct Gold w. Oval Sapphire 

Good As Gold, an exhibition of exquisite new jewellery by Rainer Beneke is now on until May 19, in AVID jewellery.

Rainer Beneke Earrings, 22ct Gold w. Diamonds

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

Pearls: A few questions answered

The pearl is the oldest known gem, and for centuries was considered the most valuable.  The majority of pearls now are cultured, in which an irritant is inserted into the mussel or oyster, triggering a substance called nacre to be secreted around it, which eventually forms the pearl. 

The most common types of pearl that our jewellers use are:

Lynn Kelly - Mabe Pearl & 18ct Gold Earrings

Mabe Pearls: A blister pearl, where a half-bead nucleus is glued against the inside of the shell, prompting nacre to be secreted over the bead.  When formed, the blister is cut from the shell and the bead removed. The remaining cavity is then filled and covered with a mother-of-pearl backing.

Blair Smith - MOP & Stg Silver Brooch

Mother of Pearl: The smooth, hard pearly lining on the interior of a mollusk shell.

Tahitian Pearl & 18ct gold Earrings by Frances Stachl

 Tahitian Pearls: A dark coloured pearl from the black-lipped oyster. Only naturally coloured black pearls, as opposed to dyed ones, can be called Tahitian Black Pearls.

The best way to clean pearls, is to just wipe with a damp soft cloth.  If there is a lot of dirt to be removed, then they can be gently washed in water with mild soap.  It is important to note that pearl jewellery should be removed before applying cosmetics, hairsprays or perfumes, to prevent any surface reactions.

Emily Siddell & Stephen Bradbourne - Link

Jewellery Focus - Tatjana Panyoczki

Andy Kingston's 'Droogs'

Andy Kingston - Droog (front & back)

Andy Kingston - Droog (front & back)

We have just received the five vessels Andy Kingston subbmitted into the 2011 Portage Cermaic Awards, and was a finalist.  His earthenware 'Droogs' are fantastically detailed and very much need to be viewed from all angles.  In the Portage catalogue Andy had the following to say about this series of work:

"the old man was chasing his son round the room;
he was chasing his son round the room!
And while he was chasing his son round the room,
he was chasing his son round the room!"

This song was sung by my old Poppa when I was a child. It still makes me smile.
These Droogs were teased out over a long time of being draped around the lounge shelf during an unsettled time.  Sad songs were sung to them and a slow dance teased the numbers and clues out of them..
These Droogs are phone doodle friends.
These Droogs remind me of an op shop in Bristol, England called La Freak Boutique. It was a place where you would choose the most peculiar outfits for the coming music festival. Oh, to character up and slink off into the dark, chasing the heart of Saturday night.
These Droogs are you sink a my swan.

Andy Kingston - Droog (front & back)

Andy Kingston - Droog (front & back)

Andy Kingston - Droog (front & back)

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