Swinging art to brighten Motueka over winter

June 15th, 2015
[by David Armstrong]

A creative initiative to get more interest and activity in High Street during winter was launched on Saturday, with the opening of the "Swinging Art on High" art walk.

The project, organised by the Motueka Arts Council, sees 80 works hanging from the hooks normally used for the summer hanging flower baskets along the shopping precinct.

The works range from the whacky and whimsical to the detailed and beautiful, and were created by a variety of talented artists, community groups, schools and businesses, and ordinary people just having a go.

In short speeches at the launch event held outside the museum before about 40 people including artists, Arts Council organisers spoke of the desire to brighten up central High Street during the quiet winter months.

Hopefully it would encourage more people to visit the town and do the art walk, and for locals to get out and see what the our artists have made.

There was no competition and prizes involved, but all 80 entries had to satisfy several conditions around weather-tightness and durability, weight and safety.

Organisers trust that vandalism does not take place or is kept to a minimum, and that it could become an annual or two-yearly event.

Financial sponsorship was given by Creative Communities Tasman, Ray White Motueka, Mitre 10 Motueka, Our Town Motueka, Whitwells Menswear and Potters Patch.

Below are photos of the organisers addressing the launch gathering, and some of those attending.

Update
Sadly, after the first weekend of the display, one of the organisers Shirley Frater reports that nine pieces have been vandalised or stolen.

"It's so sad for those who made the wonderful pieces, the organisers and the community," she told Motueka Online. "I hope the cameras in town show the police who the idiots are. It's a hard task for me to tell and talk to the artists as they have to part with something from their soul."

Comment by Larina Honeybun:
[Posted 17 June 2015]

My art piece never managed a sleep over, it got stolen. I am gutted. I ask that if anybody sees my traditional hand crafted snowflake floating around town that it gets returned to its home on High Street outside Hot Mamas, where we will ensure it is taken down during the weekend nights in hope it can remain up for longer.

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