Witness first-hand art that transforms the mind

15 January, 2009
Witness first-hand art that transforms the mind

Art has always been an agent of inspiration and transformation – but it's never been done like this before in Wellington.

Artist and motivational specialist Cecily Guarrera will unlock the doors of the mind – and her studio – for two days on Saturday the 14th and Sunday the 15th February at the Fringe Open Studios event. She received a warm reception to her initial open studio at the end of 2008 and a great deal of interest was generated in her unique idea of intergenerational artworks.

The concept behind her bold works, popular because of their strong colours and evocative imagery, is the idea that anyone buying her paintings and 3D works also buy the right to add to the work once every few years in a collaborative session between the artist and buyer. This creates an intergenerational legacy artwork that records the mark of family members on canvas. An artwork that changes over the years as you and your family grow...

“You don’t need to be an artist” says Cecily. “You can trust my experience as a teacher to guide you to add a mark or a colour that will have significance to you.”

“We all strive to enhance our lives and we often write down our goals to make sure they happen, so why not have an artwork to wake up to that reminds you of your goals and which transforms as you transform? From creative power all things are born and flourish.” says Cecily. "Having art, objects and experiences that trigger the right side of the brain is vital to our sense of wellbeing and cohesion.”

Cecily also works with teenagers and adults to transform their lives through art and a percentage of profits from sales will go towards supporting their creativity in Wellington.

Cecily's open studio will have a wide range of work and include experiments with body printing and art materials for visitors to “play with” at various times throughout the open hours. One lucky family will go into the draw to win a painting valued at $650 and the chance to begin the journey of Intergenerational Creativity. All are welcome.

Cecily has an established body of work and has been selected for the New Zealand Fringe Festival's Open Studios programme in 2009.

For further details or queries please visit www.thesensorium.co.nz or phone 384 2010.

Cecily Guarrera's Open Studio: February 14th and 15th
Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th 10am – 6pm
158 Oriental Parade, Oriental Bay, Wellington

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Biography

Cecily Guarrera was born in 1960 in South Africa and after her travels around the globe, settled in Wellington 25 years ago. She is an artist, creative coach and teacher. Her interests are in all things social, creative and cerebral.

She produces about 15 artworks a year and sells them at various events, spaces and galleries around Wellington, focusing on one solo show a year. Her works have a strong impact on the viewer and are often statements of life drawn from quotations, lyrics, poems and plays that support the image and spirit of the work. Her most recent works are based on the 64 trigrams of the I Ching or Book of Changes.

“I have been involved in creativity all my life," says Cecily. "Growing up in South Africa gave me a touch of raw wildness that I love to infuse into the canvas in all sorts of playful ways. My mission is to create positive collective consciousness in Wellington using art and creative thinking as the vehicle.

ENDS

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