FOCUS New work on show at CAN
Now the excitement of major concerts and the Napier Art Deco Festival are behind us for another year, it’s good to know there is still plenty on offer locally to keep everyone entertained this summer.
As usual, it has been ‘all change’ at CAN and you can discover new exhibitions, activities, events and workshops to keep you busy without having to go very far.
Pop in and enjoy the first mixed media exhibition of local artist Ardie Rankin, who explores materiality of his local environment and transforms his experiments into rich, textural paintings.
Ardie is inspired by his natural surroundings and the symbolism of Ma¯ ori culture. Through his work, Ardie is weaving his own story of belonging.
Ardie was born in Rotorua, and has fond memories of jumping off the Waka bridge with his mates while his dad worked as head chef at the old Geiser Hotel.
Later, Ardie’s own career was focused on working with the large machinery of Caterpillar and Gough Gough & Hainer.
“Unless you get the marketing right, the sales will not follow.”
Ardie’s art practice takes place in his shed. He is a Kiwi bloke through and through, who loves nothing better than tinkering with metal and in particular copper, to be used as surfaces for his painting. The alchemy that takes place between materials is what fascinates him. His experimentation allows him to play with the sometimes unexpected results of substances reacting to exposure to chemicals or the elements. It drives him to try more, and combine etched metal with paint effects. This results in his trademark textural patchwork-like compositions that feature the unmistakable iconography of New Zealand.
Ardie was drawn to Hawke’s Bay as a place to live eight years ago. He is proud grandfather to two grandsons who live locally, and two granddaughters who live in Australia. The birth of the
CAN interim manager Lisa Feyen.
eldest grandson is the reason he and his wife moved to Hawke’s Bay, and he says there are no regrets. At CAN we have the pleasure of Ardie’s company one day a week, as a volunteer on our team. He has become known as our ‘Mr Fix-it’ and we could not operate without him.
See Ardie’s colourful exhibition One Turn of the Earth on display in the workshop area for the month of March.
In the Main Gallery, make sure you check out the fascinating annual exhibition by the Hawke’s Bay Photographic Society, on show until Thursday, March 12. This is their second exhibition with CAN and is a great way for the club to engage with the public, introduce the club, and give members a chance to show off their photographic abilities. Currently the club has more than 50 enthusiast members, who meet twice monthly, one evening learning new techniques, understanding editing programmes, and the other reviewing the month’s photographic submissions by members. If you would like to know more about the club, visit their website hbps.co.nz.
Coming up, CAN is proud to be hosting a jewellery forging workshop, being run by Workspace Studios from Wellington. It’s wise to book this one early, as numbers are limited. Learn how forged metal bracelets, earrings and pendants can be made from ancient and hands on techniques. Work with copper and sterling silver, using jewellers’ hammers to create beautiful textures for simple and beautiful jewellery. You will learn how to forge the metal into three dimensional forms or fold it to create dynamic pieces.
Beginners can create some set projects that will ensure they get a great piece (or pieces) of jewellery to take away, and those with more experience can work with expert tutor Vaune, to extend their skills or make slightly more advanced pieces.
This weekend workshop is held Saturday, May 23, 10am4pm and Sunday, May 24, 10am-1pm. The cost is $240 including all basic materials. Extra materials will be available for purchase. To book, please visit the Workspace Studios website www.workspacestudios.co.nz.
If you act quickly, you can book a spot on a CAN workshop this weekend that focuses completely on being kind to the Earth in your art making. If you feel concern for the environment, like to play with ingredients, and wish to learn a completely natural way to make painting materials then this is the workshop for you. Join expert Heather Yells for a weekend workshop in which you will mix and learn the ancient recipe, and Heather’s own methods for making natural tempura paint. This workshop costs $65 for the day, including ingredients and will be held on Sunday, March 8. Contact bookings@thecan.co.nz to register, or call 06 835 9448. And don’t forget Seaweek! To show your concern for the sea, create a 3D sculpture with an environmental message completely from nonrecyclable plastic waste, either at home or at CAN from Monday, March 2 in the special ‘Plastic Fantastic’ workshop area on the Mezzanine.
Your work will be added to our Plastic Fantastic Challenge exhibition display area and be judged on Friday, March 27 by guest judges, environmental artist Susan Mabin and Seaweek educator Jake Brookie.
There are prizes to be won, and you can be any age to enter, so come along and show us what you can do! Just $5 per entry.
■ Lisa Feyen is interim manager for Creative Arts Napier (CAN), 16 Byron St. CAN is open seven days a week from Monday to Saturday, 10am-4pm and Sunday, 10am2pm. Free entry. Info: 835-9448, thecan.co.nz or Facebook.