Rare art exhibition of NZ’s largest island

Media release - November 5, 2007

Rare art exhibition of NZ’s largest off-shore island next year

A rare art exhibition of paintings about New Zealand’s largest off-shore island will be held in Auckland early next year.

Talented Auckland artist Alison Gilmour will exhibit her works of Great Barrier Island at the Letham Gallery in Ponsonby for two weeks from February 15.

The event, called ‘my land, your land, island’, is the first major exhibition largely of Great Barrier Island scenes.

Gilmour started painting in 2001 after previously having studied art at an Auckland technical institute and later achieved a graphic design diploma.

Her canvas prices have hit $4500 and they are climbing.

Gilmour, a graphic designer, paints from her studio in her Herne Bay home.

``I have a passion for coastal New Zealand images.
I love water and the beach and I like to create images which make people feel good and remind them of happy times.

``I paint what I see and feel at that moment and to create a paradise which most of us dream about... utopia.
I try to bring out the most from the subjects I paint to give them a feeling of actually being there, like a wave that has just rolled in. My scenes are always devoid of people and civilisation as is paradise without them. I like to give people who look at my works a sense of well-being, a sense of escaping to that place, to create memories past and future.

``I am also fascinated with water, its power, its tones and colours, its movement, how light plays on and is reflected off and how to capture all of this in a single painting.’’

Gilmour enjoys the style of works by other New Zealand artists such as Stanley Palmer, Tim Wilson and Graeme Sydney.

She grew up in coastal Auckland and the influence of the coastline plays a key part in her paintings which represent the culture and wonderful lifestyle of New Zealand.

She is planning a major exhibition for 2008. In her spare time, Gilmour enjoys flying. She is a pilot who has flown 190 hours.

Photolink: http://www.artfind.co.nz/cgi-bin/WebObjects/ArtFind.woa/4/wa/publicView?seekType=3&artistCodeToShow=alisgilm

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