Main Gallery
10 July - 1 August 2021
Storied lines
Alex Whaley-Smith
Since moving to the Waikato Alex’s art has focused on a sensory response to nature that happens when adventuring into new places and wild landscape. The creation of new stories feels very potent. Everyday moments with people carry a new sense of presence. Alex has represented this with embroidered figurative layering over magnified painted layers of surfaces found in nature, revealing textures and surprising tonal variations. Storied lines is an ongoing series unfolding her response to new experiences on her journey in the Waikato.
Alex holds a BVA from Auckland University of Technology 2004, and Post-Graduate Teaching Diploma 2006. She taught Performing Arts and English at Secondary school; and Visual Arts, Drama and Project Based Learning at Intermediate school level.
Alex represented New Zealand in the International Museum Of Women’s inaugural exhibition ‘Imagining Ourselves’. Her work featured in print and television advertising. Her painting ‘Surface Cross Section 1’ is in the Wallace Arts Trust Collection.
Alex is establishing an art studio to teach concept -based art classes in Cambridge.
Images supplied by the artist
Storied lines 1 & 2 (details)
Main Gallery
10 July - 1 August 2021
Cloud of Unknowing
Raewyn Whaley
Raewyn Whaley’s art is made from a philosophical viewpoint, which explores ideas of “being", and contemplative thought, through spontaneous undirected drawing. The Cloud of Unknowing is an anonymous 14th Century manuscript which describes the journey of seeking and finding presence through contemplation.
In Raewyn’s paintings titled Cloud of Unknowing, the bold, and at times tranquil, qualities represent letting go, and the release into a sense of ‘being’ and oneness.
Raewyn’s painting ‘Between’ inherently displays inter-relational qualities between the three forms, fundamental to compassionate living and sacred thought. It was awarded the Arts Whakatane Award at the Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Awards 2017. Recently resident in the Waikato, Raewyn has a BVA from the University of Auckland in 2002. Her artistic experience includes four solo exhibitions, figurative and portrait painting, book illustration (Harry and the Anzac Poppy, Jean Batten, George Nepia), and has been a finalist in the Molly Morpeth Canaday Award, NZ Painting & Printmaking Award, and the Walker & Hall Waiheke Award.
www.raewynwhaley.com
Images supplied by the artist
Cloud of Unknowing 1 & 2 (details)
