Mairangi Arts Centre welcomes first artist in residence

From 2 – 28 April 2019, the artist will occupy the gallery space where she will conduct various research and investigations into the prevailing, prickly Gorse bush.

“A Remedy for Hopelessness references the healing nature of the plant, the Gorse state of being, meshing with one's own feelings of despair in the face of unrelenting capitalism, human failure, climate change and extinction; working through contemporary intersections of art, landscape and ecology” says artist, Brydee Rood.

The project seeks to explore visual and conceptual narratives that stretch between the colonially rampant, golden-yellow bush and its medicinal, magical and permacultural properties; contemplating how they might relate to wellbeing through creative practice. Brydee Rood's experimentation will percolate within the gallery through the course of April.

To begin, we present Rood's earlier work ‘BirdWalk’, a series of plywood panels with the raised yellow bumps found at the edge of pedestrian crossings. Featuring brail-like signs of tiny native bush birds, it is a work offering a relevant perspective of changing habitats, notions of safe passage through local environments and our role in declining fauna. ‘BirdWalk’ creates a segue into her new residency research project: A Remedy for Hopelessness.

The residency programme is funded by the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board. Visitors are welcome and encouraged to observe developments in the space as they unfold through the artist's process. There may be opportunities to participate. For further details, visit our website for more information.

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