Please email news of local arts events to me if you wish to publicise them here.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Edward Howie, Brodie Quinn: ‘A Stranger Paradise’

From Jan Young, PhotoforumThis exhibition brings together photographic essays from Colombia and China, depicting the life of two distinct places, cultures and traditions. [Read more...]

28 May - 16 June 2012
Opening Sat 26 May, 5-7pm

NorthArt Gallery
Norman King Square, Ernie Mays St,
Northcote Shopping Centre, Auckland
ph 09 480 9633
Hours: 10am-4pm (closed Queen’s birthday)



Friday, May 18, 2012

Morris & James: Auckland Festival of Photography 'From Paddock to Pottery'

As part of the Auckland Festival of Photography Fringe, Morris & James pottery, Matakana, are holding a retrospective exhibition of the people and pots who have made the journey 'From Paddock to Pottery'.

Opening Thurs 31 May, 3-5pm.




Morris & James
Tongue Farm Rd, Matakana
Phone: 09 422 7116

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Estuary Arts Centre: View to Another World

From Estuary Arts Centre: Estuary Art Centre's challenge was to find what is not apparent at first glance. Artists are Darryl Torckler, Lorraine Brown, Julie & Ed Connolly, and Sue Dobson. Running alongside that is the Matariki Exhibition, same dates and opening etc. 

Opening: 6pm, Thurs 7 June 

Exhibition: 7 June 0 1 July

Estuary Arts Centre
214b Hibiscus Coast Highway, Orewa
Hours: 9am-4pm seven days
ph: 09 4265570

A Fine Line Gallery: Te Kirīmi ō ngā Kirīmi

From A Fine Line Gallery: The first of our special winter exhibitions opens this Saturday 19th May 12-3pm – Te Kirimi ō ngā Kirīmi, the cream of the cream. The exhibition features a selection of works priced to sell by three well known very collectable NZ artists – Charlotte Graham, Rona Osborne, Alexis Neal. Open over four weekends – A Fine Line Gallery being open same hours as Charlies Gelato – Friday-Sunday 10am-4pm.



A Fine Line Gallery
Open 7 days, 10am - 5pm
September-May (closed in winter)
17 Sharp Rd, Matakana
Ph 09 422 7942

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Matakana Pictures 2012: Images

A group photography exhibition featuring both local and national photographers is taking place in Matakana, at Art Matakana, for Auckland's 2012 Festival of Photography.

The exhibition will run from June 
2nd to 24th, with the opening taking place on Friday June 1st, at 5:30pm.

The photographers exhibiting are:
Mark Adams, Richard Collins, Barbara Cope, Di Halstead, Sue Hill, Paul Konings, Maria Krajcirovic, Andrew Martin, Davina Monds, Richard Smallfield, Murray Savidan, Jenny Tomlin and Karen Williamson.

To get to Art Matakana, proceed past the Matakana roundabout and carry on up Leigh Rd. The gallery is situated in the Matakana Country Park, which is just past the Omaha/Tawharanui turn-off on Leigh Rd. It is about an hour's drive from central Auckland.


The gallery is on the right of the car park, on the mezzanine floor.


Matakana Country Park
Leigh Road
RD5 Matakana
New Zealand
Phone +64 9 422 9790
Mobile 0274 810 821




Tuesday, May 15, 2012

A new gallery for Matakana

A new gallery is to built in Omaha Valley Rd, near Matakana, called The VivianOliver King, who is to manage the gallery, kindly consented to be interviewed for Rodney Arts Notes.

Opening a new gallery anywhere is a brave move. What prompted your decision to open a gallery and what is your vision for your new gallery near Matakana?


The idea of opening a gallery has been floating around for sometime and I guess the prompt was a need for another art experience in Matakana. Having been involved with the last Mahurangi Group Show, it reaffirmed to me the need to establish a top-tier art gallery in Matakana. There is a group of local professional artists within the community who exhibit at dealer galleries throughout New Zealand but rarely within their own community, as there is no gallery that represents this caliber of artist.

So it only felt natural from a personal point of view, to build a home to showcase their work to the community. The outcome of this is The Vivian. As a friend, I have a greater understanding of the their work and the environment in which they live, while at the same time controlling the language in which it is delivered.

What sorts of art do you intend to showcase and what will be the ratio of local and national art?

The Vivian will focus primarily on these professional local artists. I believe it is important to have the artists' works displayed in the environment in which it is created. 


We are not looking at expanding quickly but would rather let it evolve over time and at its own pace. However we do plan to expand the invitation to include guest artists from throughout New Zealand to offer a different conversation within the area, while continuing to keep the rural experience at its core.

The mediums will range from painting, photography and sculpture to video and installation work.

What will distinguish your gallery from others in the area, or from the Auckland City galleries?

The Vivian will be a home to the artists we represent. The home will offer a relaxed, comfortable and less formal environment to view and interact with art and artist alike.

Set on a 3-acre block of rural pasture The Vivian will offer an experience unlike other galleries with a library, indoor and outside works, themed shows, potbelly, a place to comment on the works or experience. The Vivian wants to be a gallery where people feel at ease to talk and discuss the art. The Vivian will always encourage engagement whether the consumer is visiting the gallery or visiting the website.

The visual arts are a small niche market and it's difficult to run a gallery profitably in the city, let alone away from a population centre. How do you plan to market yourself, to offset the disadvantages of a rural location?

I don't believe it is a disadvantage to be based rurally and we are really excited about the fact. I think it gives us a point of difference and the freedom to do things the way we would like, rather than comparing ourselves to anyone else. The Vivian is an assemblage of friends, art, artists, relationships, 
building and the celebration of rural aesthetics. The Vivian will be a destination rural experience and is a purpose built structure surrounded by pasture, native bush and two ponds. 

Our approach will be very much community and social media focused and intend to concentrate on these social touch points. Online will play a major role in The Vivian's life. We plan to showcase the artists in their homes, with their family and their things. To give the audience the artist as well as the art.

The Vivian artists will also be around to talk about the work and making of the work both online and in the gallery itself.

When do you hope to open your gallery?

We hope to be open by September, weather dependent.


Many thanks, Oliver, for taking the time to respond to my questions. I wish you the very best of luck with the new venture.
Richard Smallfield

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Bernie Harfleet & Donna Sarten: ‘Norm & Noeleen’

From photoforum: Norm & Noeleen are two personal photographic series which reflect the story of many of the aged in our society.

Bernie Harfleet's work is in black and white and records his father Norm (89) over a seven-month period - from his initial cancer diagnosis to after his death. Donna Sarten's colour photographs document her mother Noeleen (85) and her increasing dementia. Both Norm and Noeleen have a determination to stay in their own homes, while at the same time battling increasing health issues and the disempowerment age can bring.
[Read more...]


Corban Estate Arts Centre
426 Great North Rd, Henderson, Auckland
Gallery hours: 10am-4.30pm (7 days) Ph 09 838 4455


Wednesday, May 2, 2012

The Pipi Pickers to play at the Leigh Sawmill on Mother's Day

photo: Maria Krajcirovic
The Pipi Pickers Blue Grass band are playing at the Leigh Sawmill on Mother's Day (Sunday May 13), at 3pm-5pm (and again at the Matakana Market on Saturday, May 26th). 

Phone 09 422 6019 to book.


They are usually offshore over winter but are not this year, so are available for gigs. 


[View Pipi Pickers Website]