MANGAWHAI'S NO.1 NEWSPAPER
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Four artists, four visions9 March 2022
Four visions, the new exhibition at the Mangawhai Artists Gallery, brings together four artists who share a passion for using art to express their feelings and creativity. The group, all members of Mangawhai Artists, come together through common connections. Edie, Mary-Anne and Sheryl have exhibited together several times, while Geoff has art associations with both Edie and Sheryl. Geoff and Sheryl were also both acknowledged in the most recent Kaipara Art Awards. Mary-Anne Boyd, a long-time member and former chairman of Mangawhai Artists, is an experienced exhibitor but this series of work is particularly special. “‘Guardian Angels’ expresses gratitude to family and friends who supported my recovery from a serious leg injury weeks after my husband died and just before our house move,” says Mary-Anne. Her works are acrylic painting in an eclectic style on canvas, wood and metal. Edie Chappell has enjoyed being part of several shared exhibitions. Her medium of choice is mixed media using acrylics, inks, graphite and oils. She has previously painted in oils, in the landscape genre, before shifting to a mix of mediums and a more abstract style of work. “I love working in inks and have, in the past, done a lot of work in black and white. My work for this exhibition is in the mixed media of inks and acrylics, following my abstract style,” says Edie. “This series is called ‘Out of the Blue’ with a nod to the happenings in the world and the unexpected events that can literally feel like they come out of the blue. My use of blue in these works takes the series literally.” Sheryl Jury is currently using oils as her medium of choice and paints in a realistic style. Despite being sidetracked over the last two years with Covid responsibilities, Sheryl presents new works featuring flowers and realistic people portraits, as well as bright and quirky handmade wheel thrown ceramics. Geoff Ruthe first took up painting at the age of 65 through the Browne School of Art. After studying there for four years he now paints from his home studio at Whakapirau (Kaipara North). Geoff’s work represents his emotional response to landscapes he is familiar with. “I don’t seek to paint an absolute likeness of a particular landscape, I want my paintings to develop around a framework of the memories I hold of these places,” says Geoff. “I try to convey the energy and movement of the environment through the use of gestural and direct brushstrokes, and the materiality of the painted surface.” The works are slightly abstracted landscapes, onto which the viewer can project their own thoughts and feelings. n ‘Four Visions’ is open daily from 10am to 3pm from Friday March 11 through to midday on Wednesday March 23, at the Mangawhai Artists Gallery, 45 Moir St, Mangawhai.
The artists, from left Mary-Anne Boyd, Geoff Ruthe, Edie Chappell, Sheryl Jury. PHOTOS/SUPPLIED
Mary-Anne Boyd says this exhibition is special to her after going through some tough times. |