Art and crafts add to Motueka summer holiday treats

January 19th, 2016
[by David Armstrong]

Summer holidaying in Motueka doesn't just mean beaches, sun, boutique shops and great eateries - there's also fantastic arts and crafts on display.

The town has been buzzing with locals and visitors, and many have taken the opportunity to visit the annual Art Group exhibition at Peter Chanel Arts Centre and the amazing "Mid-summer Quilts in Motueka" display St Thomas's Church auditorium.

Adding to these has been an exhibition of fine woodwork and photography spanning 61 years and 100 countries, by Phil Baker. That display is at Motec (opposite the library), with proceeds to the Mens Shed Building Fund, and is running until Thursday.

Quilt exhibition
About 400 people, many from other countries, visited the three-day quilt exhibition, while about 800 people have viewed the art exhibition so far this month. That exhibition finishes on Friday.

Organisers of the quilt show note that as well as a large attendance of Nelson and Christchurch people, several folk from countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom, Holland and Australia also enjoyed the world-class quality quilts on display.

This was the second year for the quilt exhibition, and this year some work by up-and-coming teenage designer Stella Bogdanoff added a new dimension. Another show at the same time next year is already in the planning.

The organisers were thankful for the support by local craft group Crafty Tarts, as well as to local retailers Hot Mamas and Lolly Shop which provided low-cost coffees and sweets for visitors. Net proceeds were donated to St John Ambulance Service.

All items on display were made by quilters from Motueka, Nelson and Golden Bay as well as some from other parts of New Zealand. The guest exhibitor was Kathleen Burford, an award winning quilter from Christchurch. Above and below is a small selection of photos taken of some of the quilts on display.

Art exhibition
The Motueka Art Group summer exhibition, now in its 25th year, has once again turned out to be a changing feast, with a total so far of 61 paintings being sold, and since replaced by others that were not on display when the exhibition opened.

"It feels like a totally different show now from the start," says Art Group member and leading painter Don Halls. He expects that by Friday about 1,100 people will have visited the exhibition by the time it finishes this Friday. The highest number in one day was 113 people.

Don says they now recognise some visitors who come back year after year, especially some from the United States, who often buy paintings each time.

Here are a couple of photos of the venue taken at the start of this week.

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