December: MOTHERCAKE, SAM LOE
"Mothercake" reflects the translation from Sam's mother tongue of the word Mutterkuchen, meaning placenta. This biological metaphor and often unacknowledged organ has become central to her artistic practice. Through her work, Sam explores the overlooked connections between self and other, investigating both physical and philosophical boundaries. Her drawings and paintings emerge from a deeply physical process, creating conversations between inner and outer worlds - evoking new organic body forms that exist somewhere between figuration and abstraction.
JANUARY: MAKE FURNITURE
MAKE FURNITURE is committed to crafting spaces and pieces that bring ease into everyday life. Each design reflects a keen eye for detail, a dedication to functionality, and an appreciation for beauty, resulting in furniture that centres around functionality with the human touch.
February: Night and Day in the era/errors of the Anthropocene, Pennie Jagiello
Pennie’s transdisciplinary works incorporate collected discarded materials that engage with sites of body and place while investigating creative practices of women, histories, narratives, personal and cross- cultural identity, crafting agency for sustainable shared futures. For this exhibition, artefacts continue to evolve in collaboration, forever in a state of flux, to highlight our ongoing impacts as reflected in the title 'Night and day in the era/ errors of the Anthropocene'.
MARCH: GATHERING, CJ GHATT
CJ Ghatt is a multidisciplinary artist based in Tāmaki Makaurau. CJ uses pigment and thread to create paintings that often bring together unexpected materials in a harmonious way.
'Gathering' is a series of paintings and textile works that explore the act of ‘gathering’ in both subject matter and in process of creation.
November: Black Porte, Kohl & Co, Evan Beijnen, Being.Clothes, Alexis Gundry, Josephine Cachemaille and F.B.P.D/Emma Wallbanks
Black Porte is an exhibition showcasing a special collection of one-off garments, jewellery, objects, and bags from six independent NZ makers who share a deep connection to their respective mediums. This unique offering in Whakatu features an exquisite collection of predominantly wearable one-of-a-kind pieces.
October: THE SEA INSIDE HER, Alyx Duncan, Michele Powles & Collaborators
THE SEA INSIDE HER is an exhibition of paintings, poetry and a short film. It is an immersive experience about the fragility of staying in control of oneself. The work is a playful contemplation of Western society's relationship with nature – how we are affected by nature and our influence on it, while holding onto the idea that we are somehow separate.
September: Lite Cracks Gleaming Brick, Thomas Baker
Thomas is a ceramic artist based in Whakatū, with a BFA focusing on sculpture from Massey University, Wellington. In 2017, Thomas spent a year in Japan, studying ceramics under master potter Seppo Iida and son Michihisa at Hokutoh Studio, Kanazawa. He is co-founder of ceramic studio Kiln where he currently tutors and practices, and is a creative director for Nelson Clay Week.
Project 100 Open Night
Thank you to everyone who turned up bold and gold for the Project 100 launch last week. With renovation works finally complete, the space was a beautiful blank canvas waiting to be filled with our first exhibition - the golden people of Whakatū Nelson!