Time flies - The Gallery, Open Day and Exhibitions!

Wow, it's been a busy couple of months!

During my solo show called Water | States,  I sat there wondering what it would be like to carry on using the same space, that other artists might enjoy the experience I was having too. But, I couldn't afford it on my own - and still can't.

The Gallery - 81 Commercial Rd, Helensville.
Open 10am-4pm.

So I started The Gallery. It works on a four monthly rotation. If I can't make the rent because not enough artists are interested to exhibit, I give the landlord notice at the 3 month point and then wind things up a month later. It's getting to that point now. I need to find interested artists by the 1st November and some of theme need to be close enough, and free enough to help man the gallery some days during their 4 month residency.
It's proving hard to find will people, even though there is so much support for it. Perhaps it's because we live in a small community? I don't know, there are a lot of artists here, and really good ones. Perhaps we all get so busy in life, it's seems a big hurdle to commit to showing work for a length of time?
I'm working on finding out if funding is available, but that would likely mean changing the way the gallery is run. I wish I was wealthy enough to afford the rent on my own and then offer space to artists based on the merit of their work, and not on whether they could afford it too!
Anyway, my work is currently on display, I do rostered shifts, and I've really been enjoying promoting the current three artists, jewellers and potter, so cross fingers the gallery continues! If you read this, and you are interested - feel free to get in touch!

The Gallery - OPEN DAY, 13 October 2012
We are having an open day on our corner. All the shops next to us are filled - a ceramic artist with her studio/workshop is also taking classes there, Gillaz Flowers and Threadz, a really eclectic place! And Johnny Mac's Metal Art Gallery, he hand-makes steel sculpture and furnature. I thought it would be a great idea if we were all open at the same time, so that locals and visitors can check us out easily to see what we regularly have on offer. The local playcentre is going to fundraise with a sausage sizzle and the kids from the local Kaipara Collenge are busking to raise money for their music trip to New York next year. What a buzz!

Artists Den & Art Gallery
My work is going to be on display here (3 pieces at this point) for the Affordable Art Show from the 23rd October to the 18th November. All work for sale is under $1000.

I am putting one entry into the WCCAC art awards. Dropping it off to CEAC this Saturday 29th September. Looking forward to open night - seeing everything on display, finding out what other people are working on!

Water | States: Solo Show Opening Night

The opening night of my solo show went brilliantly! Three sales so far which is wonderful. Somehow validating when you’ve put time and energy into making work you believe in, and people love it enough to want to live with it. I will miss some of the pieces though, as I have lived with many of them myself for nearly a year now while producing them, but they are made to be enjoyed so off they go!

I've had some very positive feedback about the art work generally and gathered a few ideas to move forward with. One of which was a suggestion about using a currently empty shop next door - one larger than the one my show is in, or this one I'm using for the show, as a gallery on a permanent basis showcasing the work of a few local artists. 

I’d love to run a gallery here in Helensville where a collective group of high-calibre artists could show their work in an environment that is professional but welcoming. I think it could be entirely possible, but requires the space to be voluntarily manned on a roster basis, probably just in the weekend to start with. I’d love to hear the sound of music, the smell of coffee a bit of baking here and there...

So here I am, dedicated to manning the show during the weekends, 10am - 2pm Saturday and Sunday through till the 5th of August. I figure it’s a good time to collect my thoughts, plan, meet local folk as they come in to view and meet friends I’ve not seen in a while as they drop by. Perhaps I could get used to this! If only I had broadband here lol. As for the Gallery idea, I'm doing my research, if it all stacks up I may put a call out to interested local professional artists...

Some shots from the show:

Water | States Exhibition

Greetings!


I have recently had the fantastic opportunity to set up a solo show
in the heart of Helensville!


I was passing some of the local empty shops and thought, how great would it be to see my work up there. After a couple of phone calls, Des Hawkes (the owner) met with me and agreed to let me display my work for 4 weeks, for which I owe him heaps of thanks! This was only a week and a half ago, so I have been busy creating posters, phoning local papers etc. in order to spread the word. After all, Helensville does not get the same foot traffic as Ponsonby, Parnell, Devonport or the Auckland inner city. I wish I could man the show all week, but with young kids that's just not possible, so a huge thanks goes to my husband who is now in sole-charge of the children for the duration of the show (8 hours x 4 weekends). There is only one potential spanner in the works for this event. If anyone wants to rent the space between now and the closure of the show, then I have to move up or down one shop (re hanging and all that jazz). If all three get rented I'm screwed!


To add, the local Helensville 'Monkee Business' antiques/curio's owner has offered to help me furnish the pop-up gallery space. Awesome! I'm hoping it'll look welcoming, interesting and provide a bit of a spark to perhaps fuel other creative opportunities around the township. I need to decide a theme and I'm thinking water, translucent, shiny, fluid with the organic feel of fibers, weaving etc as a contrast. If I can use the middle shop, which I am hoping to do, I also need to paint the two end walls - pink and grey stripes just don't really go...


Today I have created a listing on TradeMe to offer one of the pieces as a pre-exhibition sale, for which I hope they forgive the wee marketing ploy that it is!


My other piece of news is my fab artist profile that has been included in Gallery36's emag (2012 Volume 4-No.3 issue). The issues can be downloaded from the site. I really enjoy this e-mag as it profiles local plus wider emerging NZ artists. It's a great read to see what's happening around the place. It's given me a chance to really explain why I do the kind've work I do. I will display a copy at the show for reference.


Anyway, come see my show - here are the details:

Kiwiartist | Arwen Flowers - New Artworks 2012

It's been forever, it feels like, since I have posted - been busy with painting though. So thought I would update with a simple reminder to check out my Picasa page which is fully current with all my latest stuff. Here's a few examples of recent work. A lot of the developments come from not being able to locate suitable canvas. I will have to physically go to visit a few manufacturers I think to make a judgement call. I'm finding it too hard based on the samples I have, which are not really large enough. I hope I find something because although I like the work on paper I have done, I really miss tearing the canvas - the edges, the texture, the way the paint looks and sits. It's been a good last few months in that I have been able to show some work at the local Helensville Art Centre, Wine and Art (Q Gallery) in Kumeu plus a couple at the Royal Easter Show. Need to keep working to gather a few more to show at a place on Te Atatu Rd which I have been keeping in mind since Christmas.

Remember, by buying directly from the artist, you pay a cheaper price generally and the artist doesn't miss out on the 20-35% commission charge that many galleries place on sold artwork!

Cosmic Snowstorm - mixed media with paper on canvas

Freeze Fall - mixed media paper on paper

Healease - mixed media canvas on canvas

Aquahesion  - mixed media canvas on canvas