Current Exhibitions
Photo Credits all to Alan Murphy Design
Paint Humanity
10 December - 22 December
Whakaaturanga Gallery
Morrinsville College Art Students years 9 to 13
LAST DAYS - Don't Miss this lovely show
PLEASE NOTE: We close at 4pm daily* until we close on the 22nd of December.
*Closed on Mondays
Please check in again for any changes, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates
Paint Humanity, is an eclectic but poignant mix of Year 9-13 paintings and senior photographers’ work from Morrinsville College. In a world of dissociation, our students have painted or captured a varied collection of visual narratives. Each portrait tells a story, portraying unique experiences and identities. From ‘the gaze’ these images celebrate the artistry of capturing the human soul or mortality. 'The Portrait' invites the viewer to explore the tapestry that make us who we are. Delve into the world of our teenagers, frozen in time through the lens of talented photographers and artists. Visit our exhibition at Morrinsville Gallery where each portrait is a brushstroke that paints the canvas of humanity.
From the Curator: This collection of folio and loose work from the Morrinsville College, has surprised and delighted me, initially I will admit to being a little overwhelmed by the amount of work that came in, but with the help of three senior students, I am proud to say, we have hung a magnificent show, including an extra sculptural piece that we collaborated on. The show is only on for the last two weeks of our 2024 season, and closes on the same day we close for the year – the 22nd of December, so don’t waste the opportunity to see this delightful mix of work from our young artists.
Morrinsville College is a state secondary school located in Morrinsville, Waikato, New Zealand. The school has a roll of approximately 729 students from Years 9 to 13. They have a dedicated Arts Program which has enjoyed a good relationship with the gallery for many years - notably holding a graduates show every couple of years. The School Motto is ‘Be of service to others and be truthful to yourself’ ‘Mahia te pai ki te katoa me te whakapono hoki ki a koe ano’. Which seems to reflect the spirit of this latest show in our lovely expansive Whakaaturanga Gallery. The kids are excited to share the work as we here at the gallery in conjunction with teacher Sarah Bennett, are proud to enable this event.
Rachel Kiddie McClure
What Happened To Me Yesterday? 2020
Cross-stitch.
660 x 770mm
Nine Voices, Waikato
The Arts House Trust Gallery
2 December - 23 February 2025
Ahsin Ahsin
Alice Alva
Bridget Barnett
Jennie De Groot
Rachel Kiddie McClure
Cilla Kinnaird
Craig McClure
‘They Call Me Ninu’
Xavier Tapp
Nine Voices, Waikato presents nine contemporary artists from the Waikato region. Their recently created works on display are wall-based and of various media, including textile, painting, collage and drawing. The Arts House Trust (based in Tāmaki Makaurau) has a long-standing partnership with Morrinsville Gallery to hold regular exhibitions that highlight the Trust’s collection. This exhibition was conceived as a new project, to showcase non-collection work from the Waikato region. Many artists based in the Waikato were contacted, requesting expressions of interests and online portfolios. The resulting exhibition, Nine Voices, Waikato, provides a sample of the rich creativity we may encounter in the Waikato region.
There is a broad scope of expression and subject matter in Nine Voices, Waikato. Notably, we can observe qualities of playfulness and humour in several practices. The first two parts of Rachel Kiddie McClure’s cross-stitch triptych include phrases that appear witty, upon first reading. They raise the question: Can these be likened to home décor plaques offering sayings such as ‘Home Sweet Home’? However, the third section of Rachel’s triptych make us re-consider our initial impressions, as it presents writing of a more personal nature. Ahsin Ahsin’s two paintings on display are from his Turbo Croc 2.0 series - an evolution of his seemingly cartoonish ‘Croc’ character, a half human/half crocodile hybrid. He developed his first ‘Croc in 2018, following research into amphora black-figure vase paintings (common in ancient Greek vases). These paintings result from a morph of various sources, including 80s and 90s sci-films and skate culture. Many of the artworks on display can be regarded as being process driven, presenting the creative act in specific media. There are paintings by Jennie De Groot, Cilla Kinnaird and Xavier Tapp, with their unique style and subject matter. Or for instance, Craig McClure’s large ink drawings, textiles by Alice Alva, Bridget Bartnett’s multimedia works, and digital collages by ‘They Call Me Ninu’.
Lastly, in summary - viewers will not encounter, or clearly recognise, the Waikato region in Nine Voices, Waikato. Rather, they may acknowledge the artists and communities who make our places special.
He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata: It is people, it is people, it is people
Photo Credits all to Alan Murphy Design
Christmas Show 2024
21 November - 22 December
Community Gallery
Presented by
Helen and Brian Gibson
LAST CHANCE TO SEE THIS WONDERFUL SHOW THAT EVERY IS SAYING IT'S THE BEST EVER!!!
Please check in again for any changes, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates
The Christmas display will be open for a special evening viewing for three nights in December
Come and see our wonderful display before you take the drive around the Morrinsville streets to see the towns festive light displays.
ALSO GREAT NEWS! The Gallery Staff are excited to be able to provide extended Pre-Christmas Hours, for the whole month of December*. We will be open daily* until 4pm!
*Up until our closing date 22nd December, also we are, as always, closed on Mondays.
The best miniature Christmas Show in the Mighty Waikato is here!
Helen and Brian Gibson's Christmas Miniature Show is back, and it's better than ever this season! The Gibson family is passionate about the Christmas spirit and has been collecting hundreds of special pieces from around the world for this incredible display. This year, they have added a new, colourful addition to the fireworks decoration.
As the leading art gallery in the Matamata-Piako district, we are proud to share this private collection, which is unique in Waikato and North Island, with our visitors.
Come with your family and friends and enjoy the magical carnival scenes and winter landscapes in a village setting. The Christmas Show is presented free of charge as a gift to our community on behalf of Helen and Brian Gibson. Donations to the gallery are very welcome. We will also have a collection point for the Morrinsville food bank if you would be able to donate to that worthy cause also, it would be greatly appreciated. Christmas is, after all, about giving.
This exhibition has been passionately curated by artists Helen and Brian Gibson and supported by the MPDC Creative Scheme.
The Christmas Show at the Morrinsville Gallery will be open to the public from Thursday, November 21 to Sunday December 22, 2024. NOTE: We will be announcing some special extended hours to ensure everyone gets a chance to see this wonderful show.
Morrinsville Art Gallery is open:
Tuesdays to Fridays: 10AM to 3PM
Sat and Sundays: 11AM to 3PM
Morrinsville Gallery will close from Sunday December 22 at 3 pm and will reopen to the public on Friday 10 January 2025 at 10:00 am
About the Morrinsville Art Gallery
The Morrinsville Art Gallery is the leading art gallery in the Matamata-Piako District. We work to create a vibrant environment for all locals and visitors to Morrinsville and the Mighty Waikato Region. As a charitable trust run by two staff members and thirty-plus volunteers and overseen by our wonderful Trustees, we are constantly striving to create opportunities for our community to connect within an art context.
We are immensely proud to be a central player in Morrinsville’s role as a vibrant and creative hub for art and culture in rural and greater Waikato. We are committed to supporting local and national artists.
With a diverse programme of exhibitions and events, we aim to inspire and engage our community with the transformative power of art.
Contact us with your exhibition proposals or projects at info@morrinsvillegallery.org.nz we look forward to hearing from you.
This event is supported by
Home
A Collection of Wintec
Graduate works
The Whakaaturanga Gallery
19 November - 8th December
Curated by Tamsin Green
The idea of Home is a unifying theme across the broad range of creative practices that form this exhibition from recent graduates of Wintec’s Bachelor of Contemporary Art, Bachelor of Media Arts (Honours) and Master of Arts programmes.
Home can be a sanctuary and a place to rest, or it can be a site of uncertainty. In Gabriel Renner’s works familiar suburban streets are rendered as pop art stories, the ordinary is made vivid with line and unexpected colour. In the photographic works of Lillie Stewart, the once domestic spaces of an abandoned mill show how time eats in on what once was comfortable. This sense of the uncanny domestic is echoed in Jamieson Hudson’s treatment of the soft and inviting spaces of the bedroom cut through with a hint of uncertainty.
Homes are not always literal or direct. For Tristan Zhang the notion of home is complicated by distance and migration. And for some artists home is a nuanced idea of following your whakapapa lines backward and forward through pūrākau (stories), a journey which is paralleled in Desiree Ratima’s rendering of home as encapsulated in the vast ocean space of the Pacific.
Artists:
Jamieson Hudson (MA)
Desiree Ratima (BMA Hons)
Dejana Sveistrup (BCA)
Gabriel Renner (BCA)
Summer Okey (BCA)
Lillie Stewart (BCA)
Ofa Ki-Vahafolau Mage (BCA)
Julia Iti-Prendergast (BMA Hons completing 2024)
Tristan Zhang (BCA)
Lizzie Price (BCA)
Light From Near and Far
The Arts House Trust Gallery
4 September - 1 December
Light From Near and Far Light From Near and Far brings together many works from the Arts House Trust Collection and works by Audrey Goggin, Sophia Malota, Bridget Pahl, Angus Collis and Shan James, to explore how artists utilise a sensitive depiction of light to convey emotion and intimacy. Whether portraying distant landscapes or close domestic scenes, each work communicates a distinct lightness through the artist’s use of colour, texture, or their treatment of space.
Including works from 1930 to the present day, the exhibition provides a snapshot of the use of light in image and object-making throughout art history. Rita Angus’ painting Clouds over the Bealey (1930–34) replaces dark shadows with rich blues to evoke a cool remote landscape, while Michael Browne uses warm corals and yellows to create a sense of richness and warmth in his painting Burn Time (1990). In more abstract works, Georgia Arnold and Allen Maddox play with lightness, colour and form, leaving the viewer to decipher any subject or message.
Sculpture and ceramics works in the exhibition use different qualities of glaze and finish that interplay with physical light. These three-dimensional pieces engage in interesting conversations with nearby paintings that reveal and explore each medium’s respective relationship with light. The role of time and space in relation to light also becomes evident with the juxtaposition of the three-dimensional with the flat picture plane. For example, the radiance captured in Marc Blake’s Evanescent (2014) shares similar colours and luminosity with Graeme Storm’s Bellarmine style bottle (2009), but only depicts this particular snapshot in time while Bellarmine style bottle continuously plays with light dictated by the environmental context and conditions in which it
is viewed.
Bios:
Audrey Goggin is a London-born, Tāmaki Makaurau-based artist currently completing her BFA at the University of Auckland’s Elam School of Fine Arts. Her practice is based primarily in oil painting and explores ideas of identity and cultural representation. She was awarded first prize in the 2023 Arts House Trust Secondary School Art Awards and was a recipient of a Pat Hanly Creativity Award in 2023.
Samoan-Australian artist Sophia Malota is based in Tāmaki Makaurau. Working in oil, she explores fond childhood and familial memories through painterly brushstrokes that convey a warm light. She was a finalist in the 2023 Arts House Trust Secondary School Art Award.
Picture credits
My Mother (1976) Audrey Goggin, 2024, oil on canvas, 550 x 700 mm.
My Mother (1976) depicts the artist’s mother at one year old on the steps to her house in Hong Kong. This intimate scene captures an infant’s core personality before it is affected by the positive and negative life experiences that shape who we become. The vivid yellow light unifies the picture and creates a warm, intimate feeling.
Many Hands Make Light Work
LAST DAY, THIS SUNDAY
15 October to 17 November 2024
Whakaaturanga Gallery
We invite you to come and enjoy an eclectic mix of painting, sculpture, photography, fibre-crafts and more, all pulled together and presented in this large scale group exhibition by our gallery volunteers - past and present. There will be artworks and artifacts that speak of our interests and memories, the intention is to create a greater connection within our group, to bring us all together and show each other (and the public), who we are, we are artists, daughters, sons, mothers or fathers, crafts people, story tellers and above all helpers.
This show is intended to further nurture relationships amongst the volunteers, with the public, and with the gallery itself. We hope to raise the profile of volunteering at the gallery and elsewhere in Morrinsville and greater Waikato and to incite interest and curiosity from the public about the benefits of volunteering. Ultimately, we mean to celebrate ourselves and our vital role in keeping the doors open and the gallery free for all to enjoy. We are proud to stake claim as essential ingredients in what is a very important cultural hub in the community (and the greater Waikato).
We all reflect on how volunteering enriches our own lives and those around us. We hope that you will come enjoy and engage with the mahi, and maybe you might be inspired and motivated to offer a helping-hand and share your skills somewhere in the community.
Passion and Proportion III:
Vibrant contemporary quilt art
for the bed and for the wall
Kathy Anso & Linda Rae
The Community Gallery
1 October - 3 November
Passion and Proportion III: Vibrant contemporary quilt art for the bed and the wall is an exhibition of seven, large, expertly constructed and vivid works from two experienced quilters, demonstrating the design skills developed during ten years study with an international tutor. Linda uses exquisite colour and piecing. Kathy creates stories to encourage loved ones.
We trust you will appreciate their fascinating talents for story telling in fabric and colour. As Linda says, “you can choose to read the Artist’s synopsis for each piece, or you are also free to discover your own interpretations of our contemporary visions.”
Artist Statements:
Kathy:
For the past 20 years quilting has been my creative balance to a career as a science teacher. I make quilts to encourage loved ones. Each quilt has a story, its art designed to be used on a bed and to be wrapped up in. So the materials and the sewing are durable, washable and cuddly. My heritage as a Waikato farm girl is often seen in the choice of analogies I use to tell my stories. Hawks and ducks, cows and cars, paddocks and trees.
Linda:
My love of creating with fabrics started as a 12-year-old at school sewing. Working for a while in the garment industry and learning pattern making. I use these skills in my quilting which I have been doing for about 20 years. Now living in Turangi, where I am, very slowly, converting a small garage into a studio. For me, creating quilts is both calming and invigorating. My quilts start with a seed of an idea so that the design develops as I’m working. I like to create movement in my quits. So, the eye of the viewer has to travel around it, seeing it all. During the process, I also like to play with different colour combinations, considering their depth of tone, whether they’re cool or warm, seeing how they play with each other. It’s a lot of fun! Lastly comes the construction, which can be quite complex. It’s a good thing that I enjoy the challenge of this. At each stage of the process, I can get stuck with frustration when it’s not working right. I push myself to work through this until I have a design I am happy with. When quilting, I approach it in the same way, deciding on the stitching design as I go along. At the end, if I’m really lucky, I have created an amazing piece of art that I love to share and hope you enjoy.
Opposites Attract
Julia Fausett and Brian Torrey
17 September - 13 October 2024
Whakaaturanga Gallery
What a fantastically successful exhibition this was, they sold many paintings, and we received such wonderful feedback from everyone that visited the show. We are also excited that both Julia and Brian have joined with our wonderful volunteer crew and as such each have a beautiful a painting or two in our current exhibition in the Whakaaturanga Gallery, Many Hands Make Light Work: is now in its final week.
Julia Fausett and Brian Torrey are Morrinsville artists - partners in life, joined together in this exhibition to celebrate their individuality and their co-existence. While their work is on the surface opposite, there is undeniable crossover of energy, unity, and attraction in the vibrance of colour and joy in creation.
Brian’s work exudes his love of wildlife and landscape. His acrylic airbrushed paintings capture the spirit of each animal and place, in careful, painstaking detail. The light-play in the animal’s eyes, coats and feathers vibrate with life. He expertly captures the quintessential kiwi beachscape and masters the unique to New Zealand hues in his beautiful seascapes.
Julia’s vibrant paintings all display an instinctive passion for colour and mark making, the movement of her body and brush is laid bare, gestural sweeps of thick, rich paint are interrupted by expressive scratches, scribbles, and line. At a distance you see the bold slabs and strokes of colour, yet when drawn into each piece, another language of marks and gesture and a surprising subtlety of colour emerge.
This show in Whakaaturanga’s own beautiful light and space, displayed an obvious harmony. Julia's colour choices reflecting and honouring those same New Zealand hues and light play seen in Brian’s work, bringing this joint exhibition to life.
Identity
Matamata Intermediate
5th November to 17 November 2024
Community Gallery
Curator Statement
Welcome to our Art Exhibition 'Identity', where the creativity and individuality of our students take centre stage. Each artwork on display reflects the unique perspectives and personal stories of our talented students.
The 'Bodies in Motion' art was created during the Olympics 2024 and is inspired by the style of Futurism. During this creation, students were encouraged to express their pieces through the mediums of blending Oil Pastel and using bold outlines. Prior to this, students have studied proportions of figures, blending harmonious colours and movement with lines. With their knowledge they have chosen to illustrate an Olympic athlete showing a series of repeated movements in their sport.
Self-portraits are inspired by the artist 'Kehinde Wiley' and the skill of delicate shading to bold are shown. Observational drawing and proportions are a key element, alongside repeated patterns for the background.
‘Pop Art’ style drawings are inspired by 'Romero Britto'. Use of complementary and harmonious colours are encouraged alongside repeated patterns with bold colours.
Finally displayed is 'Identity Art'. This is inspired by a recent art visit to the Morrinsville Art Gallery. When students visited the gallery and enjoyed viewing the local cows on display this was inspiration for them to look at their own identity. This opened creativity as to what animal they identified with and how this relates to their identity. When creating their piece, students were required to identify symbols of their culture and an animal that symbolises them. They were also asked to have a background to tie this together.
We hope you enjoy this celebration of identity, self-expression and creativity.
About the Matamata Intermediate School
Matamata Intermediate is an exciting and vibrant school. At Matamata Intermediate, we pride ourselves on providing a unique environment specifically designed to develop the talents, confidence & independence of the emerging adolescent in Years 7 & 8.
Our school vision is: Inspired learners. Empowered to achieve. We have always had achievement at the heart of our school’s purpose from day one with ‘whaia te kaha’ as our school motto. The core virtues of commitment, common-sense and consideration, known as the 3Cs, underpin all we do in our stimulating learning environment. We also encourage a growth mindset to support the development of perseverance and resilience.
Mish Mash
Dale Gilmore and Haydn Rive
23 August – 15 September 2024
Whakaaturanga Gallery
Both Dale & Haydn work at WSA tutoring several classes, including water colour, acrylic painting, and drawing. They are excited to be able to bring their Mish Mash of works that span many years to show at our lovely Whakaaturanga Gallery this August and September and hope you enjoy their show.
The artists reflect on this exhibition: “This is a collection of work both old and new. It has been divided into themed segments. We like to work in series and explore different facets and ideas around a common thought.
Some deal with cultural icons, others with personal reflection, yet others are narrative based and tell stories about life. We try to construct artwork, so it engages the viewer and causes them to form their own narrative around the work and to challenge them and question what they see.”
Pop of Pastel
Bernadette Ballantyne
16 - 28 August 2024
Artist’s Statement
Over the past two years, my journey with soft pastels has been one of exploration, refinement, and deepening connection to the subjects I portray. This exhibition is a celebration of that journey—a culmination of countless hours spent honing my technique and sharpening my eye for detail.
In each piece, whether capturing the soulful gaze of a beloved pet, the delicate intricacies of native fauna, or the unique expressions of individuals, I strive to create photorealistic works that resonate with the viewer. My goal has been to bring to life not just an image, but the very essence of the subject, evoking an emotional response that goes beyond the visual.
Soft pastels, with their vibrant colours and delicate textures, have allowed me to push the boundaries of realism, capturing moments of life with a richness and depth that speak to the beauty of our natural world. This exhibition marks a milestone in my artistic evolution, and I am excited to share these works, which represent not only my growth as an artist but also my deep appreciation for the subjects that inspire me.
About Bernadette Ballantyne
Bernadette graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in 2005, the same year she was honoured with the New Zealand Emerging Artist of the Year award. Following this early recognition, she pursued a teaching diploma and spent 13 years inspiring young minds as a primary school teacher while continuing to create art on the side.
Since then, she has established a predominantly commission-based career, specialising in pet and people portraits. Her work, characterised by a deep attention to detail and a photorealistic style, has continued to evolve, capturing not just the likeness but the essence of her subjects.
“Uniqueness”
Morrinsville Intermediate School
3 – 29 September 2024
Community Gallery
Welcome to the Morrinsville Intermediate School Art Exhibition 'Uniqueness', where the creativity and individuality of our students take centre stage.
Each artwork on display reflects the unique perspectives and personal stories of our talented students, expressed through the mediums of pencil sketching and Tim Burton-inspired creations. From delicate shading to bold, imaginative interpretations, these pieces showcase not only technical skill but also the students' ability to convey emotions, narratives, and their own artistic voices.
Through their exploration of light, shadow, and form, our young artists invite you to journey into their world, where each work is a testament to their growing confidence and individuality. In the third chapter of our exhibition a select group of talented students was chosen to bring the local story The Journey of Hauā and Hape to life in a new and engaging way.
Under the guidance of Bailee Foulds and in collaboration with Baylee Baxter, these students carefully reviewed and re-narrated the story, transforming it into an illustrated storybook for broader community sharing. Supported and endorsed by Ngāti Hauā iwi, this project invites viewers and readers of all ages to connect with this meaningful narrative. Enjoy this celebration of self-expression and creativity!
About Morrinsville Intermediate School
Located in the heart of Morrinsville, Waikato, Morrinsville Intermediate School is a vibrant learning community dedicated to fostering creativity, curiosity, and growth. Our students are encouraged to explore their passions, develop their talents, and contribute to both our school and the wider community. At Morrinsville Intermediate, we strive to provide a supportive and dynamic environment where every learner can thrive.
'Kia U Ki Te Pai - Whatever you do, let it be your best'
CooperAitken Community Art Calendar celebrates our young artists in Waikato!
Foyer Gallery until
Saturday 31 August 2024
CooperAitken has selected exceptional artworks from the talented kids in our Waikato community for their Community Art Calendar 2025. Don't miss the chance to be part of this thrilling exhibition from August 18th to 31st at the Morrinsville Gallery Foyer.
According to Vanessa Ward, the leader of Marketing and Communications at CooperAitken, "At our company, we thrive on mutual support, collaborative efforts, shared dreams, and collective aspirations, all aimed at nurturing a thriving environment for everyone."
The challenge "What does community mean to YOU?" was met by our community's talented children.
2024 FUNDRAISING SILENT AUCTION
23 July – 9 August. Community Gallery
Morrinsville Art Gallery Charitable Trust Celebrates its 14th anniversary with an exciting fundraising silent auction!
The Morrinsville Gallery Fundraising Committee is proud to present a diverse collection of over 25 items for our spectacular charity and art event. This includes stunning sculptures, paintings, unique photography, and portrait vouchers, ensuring there's something for every art enthusiast.
We are honoured in 2024 to present the works of the following artists who support the mahi required for the financial well-being of the Morrinsville Gallery: Wayne Sinclair, Vicki Carruthers, Karin Barr, Peata Larkin, Peata Larkin, Adrian Worsley, Creative Fibres, Brian Gibson, Georgia Black, Mr Black, Pauline Tapping, and Barry Smith.
Selected hero pieces of artwork will be part of our live auction during The Madeleines Show on Friday the 9 August. Artworks will be on display at the Community Gallery from 25 July to Friday, 9 August. Times:10am to 3 pm, Tuesdays to Fridays and 11 am to 3 pm Saturday and Sunday.
"We are very humbled and excited to see these special people support us with generous donations to our Art Gallery. One hundred per cent of each bid goes to the Gallery, and we can't wait to see how Morrinsville will step up to show their support for our cultural gem, our Morrinsville Gallery," says Fundraising Committee member Jane Fergusson.
We are also very grateful for the support of our event sponsors, House of Travel, MBS Advisors, and Vercoe Insurance Brokers. Their generous contributions have made this fundraising event possible, and we deeply appreciate their support. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to the talented artists who have donated their artworks and commissioned works to the auction.
How to make a bid
If you're visiting the Morrinsville Gallery, you can easily register to make a bid at the front desk. Your name and phone number will be recorded in the register, but you'll place your bid using your unique registration number to ensure anonymity on the bidding sheets. Rest assured, this information will be kept confidential and used only for the auction.
Ticket holders for the Madeleine's Concert – your ticket number is your registration number; please confirm your name, phone number and registration number at the front desk.
For live auction items; the top bid shown here will be the start bid on The Madeleines Night Show (Friday, 9/08/2024, 7 to 10 pm).
If you cannot visit the Morrinsville Gallery, you can still join the auction and make a bid on any of the items/lot numbers. Please email info@morrinsvillegallery.org.nz with 'ART AUCTION' as the 'subject', and we will reply with simple, detailed instructions.
On behalf of the Morrinsville Gallery Family, thank you so much for supporting our financial well-being.
Sarah Lee: Monsters
19 July to11 August 2024
Whakaaturanga Gallery
Sarah Lee reflects on her inspiration: "In my early teens I bought tickets to a concert by Dunedin band The Chills. I didn’t really know the band then, I was just curious to see live music. At the risk of showing my age, the tickets came with a free cassingle that contained a song The Male Monster From the Id. Intrigued, I got the dictionary out to learn what the Id was.
noun
psychoanalysis
the part of the mind in which innate instinctive impulses and primary processes are manifest: Compare with ego and superego.
"the conflict between the drives of the id and the demands of the cultural superego"
That spontaneous decision to go to a concert planted a seed that still occupies a precious place in my mind. I not only developed a love for The Chills that has endured, I also retained a curiosity about the concept of the Id. Whenever I am asked to articulate what my artistic inspiration is I drift back to that moment in my childhood bedroom listening to a song that opened my mind to new ideas and deeper thoughts about the monsters that dwelt within"
Sarah's sculptural works are intricate and enigmatic pieces that each tell a tale of their own. They are, by her own admission, strange but friendly creatures that clamber out of unknown places in her mind.
Sarah works out of her studio in Te Aroha and has a Diploma of Art & Craft from Hungry Creek. This is her third exhibition with the Morrinsville Gallery.
The Stars of Matariki by Morrinsville School. 28 June – 21 July. Community Gallery
“Mānawatia a Matariki (to celebrate the Māori New Year), Te Kura ō Morenawhira (Morrinsville School) have created pieces of artwork that reflect the starts of Matariki and their significance in Te Ao Māori.
Each class has chosen a star/kaitiaki that has its own whakapapa, meaning and representation. Each akomanga (class) then had a goal to portray their chosen star through mahi toi (the production of art). Some mahi toi have been created individually and some collaboratively as a whole class.
The stars/kaitiaki we have incorporated within our display are Matariki, Waitī, Waitā, Waipunārangi, Tupuānuku, Tupuārangi, Ururangi, Pōhutukawa, Hiwa-i-te-Rangi and Tangotango”
Nicole Healey, head of the art department at the Morrinsville School, explains “Our art is a Matariki focus where each class is representing one star from the Matariki cluster, and one class represents Tangotango the guardian of the stars. Every class has between 18-28 children who will all have art to be displayed. We have 10 classrooms providing art to the exhibition with an age range from 5 years old to 13 years old. there will be 220 children in total participating in the art exhibition. Some classrooms will have a piece of art from each child, and some have worked on a collaborative classroom piece”.
About the Morrinsville School
Te kura ō Morenawhira is a primary school in Morrisville made up of 220 children. Our kura has 10 wonderful classrooms with children from new entrant to year 8. We strive to uphold our values Hiranga (Resilience) , Kawanga (Responsibility), Whakaute (Respect) and Manaakitanga/Aroha (Kindness) in our everyday learning and teaching journey. Our kura is not only a school but a whānau and we nurture and care about each individual who comes through our gates. We are so excited to be displaying our Matariki Art in the Morrinsville Art Gallery again.
Photo: Miles Elliot from Morrinsville School.
Dianne Baker: Focus
Whakaturaanga Gallery
8 June - 14 July
Opening: Saturday, 8 June, 11AM - 1PM
“Throughout art history, we see so many paintings of important dignitaries whereas I enjoyed the artists who painted people going about their ordinary lives without formal posing. I enjoy the challenge of honouring, through paint on canvas, people in their own environment and using their individual skills and knowledge.” Dianne Baker.
“Focus”, an exhibition in Whakaaturanga Gallery at the Morrinsville Gallery, shows twenty-two paintings by artist Dianne Baker, celebrating people focussed on their particular activity. Covid lockdown was over so that we could return to our individual pursuits. Dianne observed the joy and relief of people as they were able to work and enjoy life as they knew it. The works are not formal portraits of individuals. Instead, she has focussed on their connection and focus to their particular activity. Each painting is celebrating all who are engaged and immersed in their own individual or group activity.
A mini-series depicts three paintings showcasing the café staff providing us with food and drinks using their skills and equipment for our delight. Another group of paintings depicts plumbers, electricians, builders, painters, and a plasterer with their own trade belts and tools, fully immersed in the job at hand. There is a nod to the farming world with a vet working, and a young person nursing a sick calf. Sport is featured, where it is a necessity to interact as a group, the focus is fully on the ball. Leisure, especially outside activities are essential for our wellbeing, as we were far more aware of following lockdown. A group of paintings explore the individual’s connection to our environment for pleasure.
Dianne is aware and enjoys the fact that each viewer will bring their own experiences and responses to these artworks. That is an important part of exhibiting. Although she has used individuals as models, she encourages a broader view by painting them in their environment that depicts the activity as important and the models as representatives of their trade or activity.
Image: Hammer and Chisel, Dianne Baker
Rack 17A, Rack 22A, Rack 26A
The Arts House Trust Collection Gallery
1 May - 7 July
Rack 17A, Rack 22A, Rack 26A presents artworks from The Arts House Trust Collection, taken directly from these racks in the storeroom at Auckland’s Pah Homestead. The three racks were chosen to highlight the breadth of the collection. Senior well-known artists are included, along with those who are (or were) mid-career or emerging.
The artworks in the collection are not stored in a particular order on the racks. They were placed as space allowed and their location is then recorded in the Trust’s database. The works in Rack 17A, Rack 22A, Rack 26A are displayed in a similarly jumbled manner. This sense of ‘disorder’ often forms part of our daily lived and online experience. We may encounter many things simultaneously like images appearing from all directions. It can be a jarring experience. But over-saturation can result from actions we make and be positive and personal. Our consumption of music is such an instance. In times past we made mix tapes, set our iPods on shuffle and now we have streaming services such as Spotify.
Renata Nemeth: connectiON
Community Gallery
8 - 25 June
Opening: Saturday, 8 June, 11AM - 1PM
“My exhibition ‘connectiON’ is a celebration of the bond that bind us to the philosophy of life and sustainable practices. Rooted in the heart of Waikato, this collection reflects my deep connection to the land, its community, and its rhythms, observing the delicate dance between humanity and nature.
In ‘connectiON’, I embrace the challenge of crafting contrast, tension, and harmony within each piece. My art beckons the observer to journey through its intricate layers, discovering new corners and angles with every step.
As an artist, my dream extends beyond the canvas; it's a vision of fostering awareness and inspiring action towards sustainability. Through this exhibition, I invite viewers to contemplate their own connections to the world around them and to embrace the beauty of life”.
Image: Onetangi Bay - Waiheke, Renata Nemeth
View Point Exhibition
Community Gallery
4 May – 2 June 2024
"View Point" features the work of five talented local artists - Susan Roome, Judy Flashman, Denise Boreham, Samantha Derewlany, and Chris Cockitt. Each artist brings a unique style to the exhibition, from vibrant landscapes to photorealism, ensuring there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Susan Roome’s Friday Painting group is not just a group of artists but a community of friends who share a passion for art. They have been painting together since September 2022, meeting every Friday at the Morrinsville Gallery Learning Centre for a painting session and good-natured banter.
Image: Morrinsville River Walk by Susan
Jenni Taris: Pottery Making For Forty Years
Whakaturaanga Gallery
5 May - 2 June
Opening: Sunday, 5 May 1.00PM - 3.00PM
Jenni Taris works every day in in her own studio, she has her own kilns and equipment, her work comes from my stories and experiences in her life. “I still experience the feeling of Christmas mornings when I open my kilns never know what’s it going to be like, I can plan it out as much as I can sometimes surprises and wonderful things happen”.
STILLS
Arts House Trust Collection Gallery
8 February - 28 April Photography from The Arts House Trust Collection Image: Beth Garey, Nectar/Pollen - Kale
Stills is a diverse photography exhibition from the large body of photographic works held by the Arts House Trust. The selected photographs, all by New Zealand artists, present a range of subject matter through time, with an emphasis on contemporary practice.
Several portraits of renown NZ artists feature in various media, rich black and white or luscious Cibachrome. Other works show the figure in roles of performance and various states of dress. This is a long-standing tradition in photography following key artists such as Cindy Sherman and Tracey Moffatt. Included are photographs presenting rituals specific to indigenous cultural practices.
Some recently acquired works on display highlight a sense of the present moment, concerns of our time. Several works are by tertiary and secondary school graduates. The three photographs by Beth Garey were produced in 2023 in completion of her Graduate Diploma in Visual Arts at the Dunedin School of Art, Otago Polytechnic.
Beth Garey writes: Pollen, pheromones, nectar, disease. Our relationships with other creatures in the world are generated through our senses; coming to know multispecies resonances, new terrain. In my work I have explored moments of encounter and relation with the honeybees I live with. An awareness of their needs, sensory worlds and speculations has rearranged me, making me better attuned to the living constellations I operate within.
Purely Pastel: PANZ
Whakaaturanga Gallery &
Community Gallery
23 March - 28 April
Opening night: Friday, 22 March, 5PM-7PM
PANZ is succeeding in its aim of raising the awareness of the art-buying public, artists, and galleries of pastel art. A Convention and National Exhibition is held in a different region each year. So far they have been held in Blenheim, Cambridge, Upper Hutt, Mapua, Christchurch, Stratford, Fielding, Dunedin, Tauranga and Auckland.
Image: Eastland Port, Zoe Alford-Pilot
LandEscape
Whakaaturanga Gallery
Opening night: Friday, 16 February 5PM - 7PM
16 February - 17 March
LandEscape explores the different ways that artists in Aotearoa express their relationship and connection to the land – this exhibition explores eight Artists approach to landscape and focuses on artistic identity and the various ways this can be presented.
Image: Tristan Zhang
The Jolly Girls
Community Gallery
Opening night: Friday, 16 February 5PM - 7PM
16 February - 17 March
The Jolly Girls is a Collaborative exhibition consisting of 6 Fibre and Fabric artists led by Anne Jolly.
Image: Anne Jolly
Hit 'em With their Laser Beams
Arts House Trust Collection Gallery
6 December – 6 February
Hit ‘em with their Laser Beams is a selection of painting and drawing from the Arts Trust Collection.
Image: Bill Hammond, The Young Designers 1989
SARATH/ FREDDIE SURENDRAN: APRICITY
Community Gallery Official Opening: Friday, 12 January 5PM-7PM
13 January - 11 February
"let us all find the peace amongst the chaos just like my paintings" - Sarath/ Freddie Surendran
Mr Black: Almost Human
Whakaaturanga Gallery
Official Opening: Friday, 12 January 5PM-7PM
13 January - 11 February
The Covid pandemic gave us thought to a world without humans, a place where humans once existed. Almost Human plays on this apocalyptic thought, imagining a place where there are tell tale signs that humans were there, but maybe no longer exist.
Helen and Brian's Christmas show
Community Gallery
21 November - 21 December
Free Entry
Helen and Brian Gibsons annual Christmas show
Morrinsville College Portfolios 2023
Whakaaturnga Gallery
5 December- 21 December
This exhibition showcases the works of Morrinsville College students, featuring piece's from Year 9 - Year 13
Image: year 10 student
DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER
IT MAY TAKE YOU ON ANOTHER JOURNEY
The Arts House Trust Collection Gallery
13 September - 2 December 2023
Curators Talk: Saturday 7 October 11AM
Curated by Laura Campbell and Justin Jade Morgan.
Bringing together a diverse selection of artworks from The Arts House Trust, New Zealand’s largest privately held art collection, ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover; it may take you on another journey’ aims to lure the viewer beyond the cover of a book to reveal new pictorial narratives.
Artnexus6: Shapes and Scapes
Whakaaturagna Gallery
7 October - 5 November
Official Opening: Saturday, 7 October, 11.00AM
As members of Artnexus we have drawn on 20 years of support and encouragement within the co-operative to showcase works that vary in media, colour, subject and form. they have exhibited annually from 2001 to 2020 as part of the larger Artnexus co-operative, including at Morrinsville Gallery, ArtsPost Gallery (Hamilton), Sandz Gallery (Hamilton) and Estuary Arts Centre (Orewa). Some of us have also exhibited in small group or solo exhibitions.
Image: Joy Keates- Rose, Sunday
Morrinsville Intermediate
Community Gallery
7 October- 5 November 2023
Morrinsville Intermediate students presents 3 series of works in the Community Gallery.
Image: Eva Thompson- Tia
Creative Fibre Waikato Exhibition
Whakaaturanga Gallery
8 November- 3 December
Official opening: Wednesday, 8 November 10.30AM
This exhibition showcases skill & creativity across a diverse range of talents using predominantly natural fibres, both plant and animal.
Liquifying Light
The Arts House Trust Collection Gallery
14 June – 10 September 2023
Official opening: Sunday 25 June 11am
Curated by Daisy Nicholas
Liquifying Light explores the dynamic relationship between experimental contemporary photography and environmental physics. As an open-ended dialogue featuring contemporary New Zealand artists, this exhibition examines relationships between nature and the various ways of capturing movement and light.
Image: Daisy Nicholas
Dale Gilmore: Really?
Whakaaturanga Gallery
2 September - 1 October
Official opening: Saturday 2 September 11am
Dale Gilmore is a retired Secondary School art teacher. Starting out originally as a Signwriter but retrained in his thirties when signwriting was starting to enter the digital age.
Gilmore graduated from Wintec with a Media arts Degree and has enjoyed pushing paint around on a surface for a lot of his working life.
he generally works in series to explore ideas. Most of his work deals with the nature of reality, designed to challenge and provoke the viewer into questioning many of the assumptions we take for granted. As a teacher he wanted students to develop critical thinking skills. So too, he wants the viewer to engage with the work with a critical, questioning mindset.
Morrinsville School
Community Gallery
2 September - 1 October 2023
Works by Morrinsville School surrounding Kaitiaki O Papatūānuku
Image: Room 11
Vicki Carruthers: The Language of Landscape
Whakaaturanga Gallery
29 July – 27 August
OPENING 11AM 29 July
Abstract and semi-abstract expressions in paint and stone speak of the permanence and transience of landscapes and landforms from the sea and the land.
Jean Horn: Celebrating 100 years in the Waikato
Community Gallery
29 July – 27 August
OPENING 11AM 29 July
Celebrating a life of 100 years shaped by the Waikato.
A selection of artworks that reflect the artist’s perception of landscapes in the Waikato over a lifetime.
Community Matariki Exhibition!
Whakaaturanga Exhibition Gallery
25 June - 23 July 2023
OPENING Sunday 11AM 25 June
We have had a great response to our call for work for the 2023 Matariki exhibition!
Come and visit to see the incredible work from our community.
The Gallery Painting Group
The Entrance Gallery
The Gallery Painting Group was formed in late 2022. This untutored group consists of five local artists who have come together for support and a desire to advance their painting skills. They meet every Friday afternoon at the gallery for a lot of fun and comradeship. The group welcomes other members who are able to regularly attend and are of an intermediate or above level.
Currently the artists are: Judy Flashman, Samantha Derewlany, Rosemary MacKinven, Denise Boreham & Susan Roome
David Street School
Community Gallery
22 June - 23 July 2023
With a school vision asking students to be a community of courageous learners, David Street School presents work within the theme of CHANGE in the Community Gallery over four weeks.