New Art Gallery in Orewa

Press Release

A new art centre has opened in Orewa and according to the Chairperson of the Arts group who made it happen it will be a centre of excellence for NZ visual arts.

The opening night was last Thursday the 1st March with Ray Columbus as MC and the Rodney Mayor John Law to officially open

The first exhibition is of the members of the local art group , The Arts Forum Inc.with over 250 entries of both emerging and established artists work. It is this group who have developed Estuary Art Centre and have done so with grants and community funding/donations of goods and services exceeding $300,000

The Hon Judith Tizard spoke to the role of the visual arts in the community and revealed a surprise art piece entitled “ Esteem – Dances within” which was a life size canvas of a lady in a red dress into which was body painted a live model so she “disappeared” into the canvas. She was revealed and stepped out of the canvas and danced to the song “lady in Red”. The artist Pat Armitstead said the piece depicts clarity of colour which reflects clarity of mind and is a tribute to her own journey stepping out of depression.

Fiona Ferons also sang a piece which celebrated art . Over 250 guests were present on the evening creating somewhat of a record for similar events. The new centre will have a monthly exhibition schedule and will showca se both emerging and established artists work in all the visual arts formats. The Arts Forum inc plan to build this centre to be a showcase for New Zealand and to create a stepping stone to overseas opportunities.

ENDS

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