exhibiting

I'm not quite sure where this week has gone. I've been very busy getting my studio ready for the Ruby Coast Arts Open Studios which are on this weekend. It'll be the first time "the public" have been in my studio, as its recently been renovated. This time last week we were eagerly anticipating the return of the hubby from his two week stint in Fiji. After picking him up from the airport on Saturday morning we went into town for lunch and a wander about.

It was a lovely day for looking up.

But we weren't there to look at the sky, but my paintings in the Spring Exhibition at the Suter Art Gallery.  This year I entered three paintings and they were hung together in the first gallery.

Pink Horizon, Kowhai and Capsules all in a row. (How I hate coming up with titles!)

I was also keen to go to an exhibition of paintings by Margaret Petchell  at The Bridge Street Collective. But it were closed (it was a long weekend so I might let them off). My favourite paintings of hers are the large budgie heads, and one was hanging in the window as a poster.

The exhibition ends tomorrow, so I'll just have to be satisfied with looking at her prints at Endemic World.

Driving home the sea was quite wild, but there were still lots of people at Tahunanui Beach.

Last night we went to the launch of the Ruby Coast Arts Festival in Mapua. There was a silent auction of postcard (A5 sized) artworks donated by various artists.  I was chuffed that my two paintings, imaginatively titled "Land" and "Sea" had a bit of lively bidding, and ended up being brought by a couple who have a local gallery.

I'll report on the how the Open Studios went next week, and share some photos of my studio while it's looking nice and tidy. Plus I'll finally get around to holding the 100 Days giveaway as that exhibition came down on Tuesday.  Have a lovely weekend.

lights and shakes

Sunday night was the last of the newly established three night festival Light Nelson, which was held in Queens Gardens in the middle of the city.  We arrived soon after this free event opened at 5.45, and there were already a lot of people wandering around in the dark. Despite the full moon and all the lights from the illuminated installations, it was quite dark, and we wished that we'd brought a torch.

The first installation to greet us as we walked in the gardens looked like three clumps of spun sugar, was in fact made from fishing nylon. They were hung on wires across the pond with lights above to illuminate them. It was great how the reflections on the water and the gentle breeze added another dimension.

These small paper houses with candles inside them, were made by refugees based on their old homes. They had names and handprints on them, and were set in a quite part of the gardens, and were very moving  in their quiet and simple understatedness.

Another favourite was this large lotus flower installation that was constructed out of bamboo poles and fabric around the Victorian fountain in the middle of the rose garden.

I didn't manage to take any half decent photos of the walk through a rainbow. As we went across a bridge we grabbed an umbrella and were wowed by the rainbow produced by laser lights and a fine mist of water.  It can be seen on this video of the event. My camera and I struggled to take good photos, here's a link to the local newspaper, which has some much better ones.

It was a good place to quell post-quake nerves. We only just got to experience the 6.5 magnitude earthquake that shook the centre of the country at 5.09. If we'd been better organised we would have already left the house and been on the road. But instead we were in the garage going out the door when it rattled us. We then had to go back inside to check the computer to find how big it was. The drive into Nelson was a bit tense as it took the radio station almost half an hour to let us know that Wellington was still standing. There must be lot of people with raw nerves in Wellington and Blenheim as the aftershocks have been very frequent, and are still going.

luxury

I've just had what I consider to be two and a half days of luxury - I went on a painting workshop! Thankfully the hubby wasn't away for work, so was able to pick up the kids afters school on Monday. At first I was quite apprehensive, as being the introvert I am, I was unsure of what to expect and who I'd meet. I did know one other artist, which helped. But what really helped me was painting. And having the time and space to focus on painting.

The setting was amazing, in a 1905 building (which is pretty old by NZ standards) built over the sea overlooking the Boulder Bank. I think I'll just let the photos do the talking.......

The workshop was taken by Richard Adams, an abstract painter from Auckland. I picked up some techniques for working on paper with texture, and colour. I haven't taken any photos of the end-product, as they're really only experimentations. Not only was it a great location and venue, the organisers were also great cooks! Ah luxury!

getting back on the horse

Joining in with {tinniegirl}{sunday snippets} is a good way to get back on the blogging horse, post holiday. I am busy with making things, and want to do the holiday justice when I have time, but by then it might be a distant memory...... 

The past week has involved trips to the beach, trips to town, enjoying sunrises again with daylight savings I'm awake in time, supermarket carparking, Friday night at port waiting for fish'n'chips and watching beans growing. Along with lots of other stuff I never took photos of! I find that instagram is an easy substitute for blogging.

There I did it, didn't want to go over a month without a post, phew! Now for the next one, getting back on the blogging horse isn't easy sometimes. Tell me how you get back on when you've slipped off.

week of snippets

It's been quite a wet week, but I managed to catch a few shots on the phone. Today I discovered Picmonkey, so mashed up some of my Instagram photos, now I'm twice as dangerous!

Today was actually quite lovely, there were even signs of spring to be found in the garden.

The top photo is of the Mapua Wharf, and the recently unveiled statue of Hamish the White Heron. Hamish visited Mapua each winter for over 15 years, but last year he didn't come back so the worst was presumed. So now he has been forever immortalised. From a distance he looks quite real, but on closer inpection the nails and wire to stop the seagulls landing on him make him look like he's having acupuncture .

Linking up with {tinniegirl} here, even although I never play the game properly and always add some words!

staycation

We have just had a week-long staycation! Yes a vacation where you stay at home and enjoy the sights. This was instigated by having friends from Wellington come and stay for the week. It was nice relaxing at home, seeing some of the sights of our lovely region, and enjoying lots of eating out and drinking the odd wine or two! We were very lucky with the weather, it only rained at once in the middle of one night, so we all got lots of vitamin D. Here are some of the highlights of the week.

Mapua estuary boat trip on the Flat Bottomed Fairy. This is very close to home, and is a 20 minute scenic cruise around the estuary. The ferry is designed to take cyclists from Mapua to Rabbit Island (and vice versa) as part of the cycle trail that is being developed in the region. As a special deal adults can take the cruise without disembarking for $5 with kids free! Money well spent.

the Flat Bottomed Fairy heading to the beach, Rabbit Island is on the right

all aboard, cyclists first!

view of the Mapua Wharf from the ferry

seaside houses, with the mountains behind (see my comment on the last photo of this post)

some of the houses, are still quite "original"!

we even saw a man walking on the water! (paddle boarding)

A trip to Kaiteriteri and Little Kaiteriteri, which are two gorgeous golden beaches near the Abel Tasman National Park. In the summer these places are packed and I find it all a bit overwhelming, I much prefer the quiet of the winter months, and as I'm no swimmer it's fine by me!

the kids searched for shells on the golden sands

Miss L practicing her cartwheels

we went on a bush walk

the kids had fun collecting the honeydew off the beech trees and eating it! (yes that tiny wee drop on the end of the hair by H's finger)

On the last day, we went to the Centre of New Zealand, which happens to be on a steep hill overlooking Nelson city with fabulous 360 views. I've just learnt it isn't "actually" the centre of the NZ! (check out the link if you're interested in the history etc).

the kids trying to see our house!

which I think is somewhere near the red X!

 There was a great panorama of all the mountains (which was impossible to take a photo of!) The Twins and Mt Arthur are the two mountains that we see from our place, and are the ones in the 4th and 5th photos of this post taken from the ferry. Following the staycation the hubby had to jump on a plane to India, so it was great to have him around for a week.