Gloriavale artists showcase talent in new exhibition
Gloriavale community members are showcasing their artistic talents in a new exhibition at Greymouth’s Left Bank Gallery.
Organiser, community leader and photographer Peter Righteous said the exhibition, named Glorious Artworks, includes paintings, charcoal drawings, landscape photographs, model aircraft and chessboards with hand-made wooden pieces.
“Most of these works were done by our young people. We also had six primary-age girls who submitted embroidery and cards,” he said.
“As we are no longer doing concerts we wanted to keep our artwork before the public as a distinctive part of our culture.”
The community previously put on concerts for the public at their Lake Haupiri property, which were well known for their artistic stage props and backdrops.
The community has been selling its art and other craft items like candles and soap at markets on the West Coast, including the annual MS Craft Fair in Greymouth, with proceeds going to Multiple Sclerosis West Coast.
The brochure for the exhibition says the artwork was created by a diverse team of young men and women who aim to glorify God with their art.
“As a group of friends and family we enjoy working together and learning from each other to develop our skills. We don’t seek any individual recognition for our work, but rather seek to enrich the lives of all those around us,” it says.
The artists were inspired by God and the beauty of Aotearoa.
“Part of the vision for our future is to continue expanding our range of works as we support local charities. We intend to exhibit regularly on the West Coast and in Canterbury,” the brochure adds.
Some members of the art team work in joinery and made the chess sets, with young men honing their craft and woodworking skills to produce products using recycled native timber.
The team are happy to do art commissions, the brochure says.
It says the community gained experience from preparing stage props and backdrops using traditional media and digital technology.
“Our artistic development now stems back three generations. We owe our success to our founders, as exposure to their work has given us access to a vast variety of art for weddings, social events, concerts and stage performance,” it says.
Left Bank Art Gallery chairwoman Cassandra Struve said the work showed dedication to practice and craft.
“The gallery is very pleased to be able to work with [art teacher] Dove [Stedfast] and Peter to bring to the wider community such industry and attention to detail,” she said.
The gallery, in the former Bank of New Zealand historic building built in 1924, has regular exhibitions of contemporary New Zealand paintings, prints, photography, sculpture and crafts, with an emphasis on West Coast content.
It also houses an expanding national collection of contemporary Pounamu works.
Glorious Artworks is on until April 26.