Excitement Mounts For Opening Of Annual Exhibition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Undy Four Hundy
Fusion Gallery and Studio, Lumsden

021 804 437

April 25, 2011

Excitement Mounts For Opening Of Annual Exhibition

Fusion Gallery and Studio is putting the finishing touches on its latest collaborative exhibition this week in preparation for its grand opening on Friday night, the 29th of April at 7.30pm. A great achievement for the gallery as it is set to cap off its first and very successful year in opening with a second run of the very successful exhibition and silent auction that launched it.

After a stellar year of many successful exhibitions gallery co-coordinator Michelle Wallis feels pleased they can come full circle to celebrate with the very exhibition that kicked the whole place off in May 2010.

”We love this particular exhibition as it offers the public a great chance to get their hands on some affordable art from a magnificent range of practicing artists, this year is no exception with over 20 artists involved from all over New Zealand, again the caliber of work is second to none with a range of well-known established artists through to some very talented emerging names, there is something for everyone”

In addition to the exhibition, Fusion Gallery and studio plans to hold a silent auction of some beautiful donated artworks for the duration of the event. Wallis hopes as many people as possible will take advantage of the opportunity to have a bid to support the gallery in its bid to raise the much needed $12,000.00 per annum needed to stay open.

Artists participating in the Undy Four Hundy include local favorites Mags Meechang, Amy Preston, Kay Ward, Joanne Borgman, Art Jeweller Anna Claire Thompson, Ballymena canvas art creator Nicola Marshall, Photographers Ross Curtis and Jennifer Markman, Wayne of the Hill, Tangaroa Walker, Kay Worthington and Mayhla Howells, many artists are from further afield including Maria Lindsay from Keri Keri, Catherine Lawes from Renwick, Diane Relf from America, Bonnie Coad and Ilsa Osborne from Auckland, Amy Mackiewicz from Blenheim, Yaniv Daniel Janson from Hamilton and Phillina Den Dilk from Balclutha.

Another special addition to the weekend will be Mayhla Howells of Invercargill as a guest artist in Residence on Sunday the 1st of May. Howells has been a Raranga contemporary artist for the last 2 years but has actually been practicing craftsperson for nearly 40. Howells enjoys lending inspiration for her work from the treasures Southland has to offer, the birds, the beach and the ocean with all the colours that nature has to offer. There are plans in the works for Howells to hold a 2 day workshop spread over 2 weekends in May for Fusion to teach others the fine art of flax weaving with an influence on putiputi (flowers).

Howells said of her upcoming residency “This is a great opportunity for me to showcase traditional Raranga methods with a modern twist, all the while highlighting the influences of nature and the use of sustainable resources, I am really looking forward to sharing my talent with the local public while I am there”

Howells also has some other upcoming events of note including participating in the Matariki wearable arts, the Hokonui Fashion awards and the treasures of Southland exhibition. Mayhla will be in studio Sunday the 1st of May between 11 and 2 and plans to be working on a Kakahu (cloak) representing paua and some putiputi. Anyone interested in attending the May workshop is invited to meet Mayhla on Sunday to see what it is all about.

Fusion Gallery and Studio plans to open the Undy Four Hundy on Friday night the 29th of April at 7.30pm with wine and cheese provided. The exhibition will be open from the 30th of April through till the 29th of May on Saturdays 10am – 3pm and Sundays 11am – 2pm.
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