Nelson Arts
NZDH Nelson Arts chapter
The Nelson region embraces creativity and design, and is renowned throughout New
Zealand for its wealth of talented artisans and art-loving individuals. Painters,
potters, sculptors, glass artists, wood turners, weavers, carvers, jewellers, furnituremakers,
and so the list goes on, have made their home here by the sea, forming and becoming
part of the creative landscape.
The region revels in its artistic make-up, supporting up-and-coming artists and
celebrating its creative spirit with various arts and music festivals, held throughout
the year.
The largest ever conceived in this region was the Montana WearableArt (WOW) Awards,
where art is taken off the wall and used to adorn the body in wildly wonderful (and
somewhat wacky!) ways. It was the brainchild of local sculptor Suzie Moncrieff in
1987 and the first show which had 50 entries, was held in a large tent.
Today the production is a major annual event and although the show itself is now
staged in Wellington, Nelson was its birthplace and this is celebrated at the World
of WearableArt and Collectable Cars Museum. It’s located near the airport, making
it the perfect first or last stop on the Nelson arts trail for those flying in or
out of the city.
Inside this aesthetically pleasing architecturally designed building there are two
main galleries to view. One houses collectable cars while the other is dedicated
to wearable art and showcases creatively displayed garments from the annual awards
show, housed in a unique gallery using theatrical lighting, movement and music.
This gallery also includes an ultra-violet room where the Illumination Illusion
section of the show can be experienced. Next door an audiovisual presentation tells
the story of WOW and features dramatic excerpts from the show. Local paintings can
be viewed and purchased from the Reflections Gallery and a retail shop provides
a glimpse into the works of local clothing, jewellery and ceramics artists.
In the city, The Suter Te Aratoi o Whakatu, the public art museum for the Nelson
region is central to the locals love of art, for here a substantial collection of
NZ artworks has been exhibited for more than 100 years. The Suter’s collection includes
paintings by CF Goldie, DK Richmond, Mina Arndt, Frances Hodgkins, Philip Clairmont,
Jane Evans, Tony Fomison, Austin Davies and Sally Burton.
The city also boasts a variety of modern boutique artisan stores which showcase
local Nelson artworks including Element Gallery, Shine, South Street Gallery, Jewel
Beetle, Rome, Catastrophe and Catchment Gallery – just to name a few! Element Gallery
and Books is located at the Nelson Visitor Information Centre on the corner of Trafalgar
and Halifax Streets and is an excellent starting point for viewing the very best
of Nelson Art and New Zealand books.
And with more working artists in Nelson, per capita, than anywhere else in NZ, it’s
not hard to find them hard at work in their home studios or galleries! For many,
a telephone appointment should first be made and the Nelson Guide Book, Art in its
Own Place provides a comprehensive guide with a complete listing of artists’ works,
phone numbers and addresses. At centres such as the Grape Escape Complex in Richmond
which incorporates a café, art and craft gallery, Living Light Candles gallery and
workshop, Prenzels Liqueurs tasting room and cellar door for two quality Nelson
wines – Te Mania and the organic, Richmond Plains – a variety of local and regional
arts can be viewed, while the Coolstore Gallery on Mapua Wharf is one of the region’s
funkiest galleries and showcases the works of more than 60 established and emerging
artists.
At the Höglund Art Glass International Glass Centre, an informative guided tour
of the facility’s glass gallery, store, museum and glassblowing studio, departs
daily at 1.30 pm. Here husband and wife team, glass artists Ola Höglund and Marie
Simberg-Höglund design and produce their unique handblown art glass using several
complex glassblowing techniques including Graal, Ariel and Incalmo.
Watching glassblowers as they work is a riveting business. Ola describes the work
of a glassblower as being a bit like a musician – every day is spent practising
and training. “As an artist I am fascinated by making a form with the human breath,”
he says, “the heat of the furnace and the molten, soft glass are my inspiration.”
Those who think it looks easy will soon realise their error if they enrol on one
of the Höglund’s popular courses – glass bead making, paperweight making or lampworks.
Classes are held throughout the year and no previous experience is necessary.