Ashburton art exhibition

Ashburton art exhibition will celebrate society’s creativity

Aoraki Polytechnic’s Ashburton art students and the wider creative community are being given “a platform to aspire to” with the opening tomorrow (October 16) of a special art exhibition commemorating creative input into society.

Sucessus, a collaboration between polytechnic art tutor Heather Sarin and two of her students on the Ashburton campus, art student Struan McGregor and photographer Brad MacDonald, will promote an awareness of the great creative and possibly unrecognised people within our communities.

And the trio have chosen actor, comedian and television personality David McPhail and local radio station presenter Phil Hooper around whom to create the art that Ms Sarin says will celebrate unique New Zealand creativity “and market the country’s artistic footprint to the international community who thirst to know more about us”.

Mr McPhail and Mr Hooper will feature in portrait paintings, mood interpretative paintings and photographic studies to be displayed at the Heather Sarin Galerie at 51 Creek Road, Ashburton from October 19 until November 27.

The invitation-only opening and preview of the exhibition three days prior will be officiated by Aoraki Polytechnic chief executive Kay Nelson.

Ms Sarin said Mr McPhail and Mr Hooper were two who understood the true meaning of creativity.

“It takes a very creative person to be an actor or comedian or a radio presenter, just simply to remember their lines.

“When I teach my students, I teach them all the principles that these two understand,” she said.

Head of Aoraki Polytechnic’s Ashburton art department, Ms Sarin said there was a general lack of overseas acknowledgement of New Zealand artists.

“Given that I am teaching levels of art studies that are on a par with the best of overseas institutions I felt we needed to give our students something to aspire to so they are not just painting mountains.”

With Struan and Brad, she interviewed and sketched Mr McPhail and Mr Hooper.

“Brad has taken some quite unusual shots of them at work and outside work; I have created some artwork around their personalities and Struan has completed some wonderful portraits of them,” Ms Sarin said.

She said she was excited to be able to help profile New Zealand creativity.

And the polytechnic’s clear emphasis on encouraging people to be the best they could be created opportunities she was proud to be part of, she said.

“Everyone has creativity. If you do not use it you are only using half of your body or half of your brain.

“Here at the polytechnic we promote ways to understand it, how to use it and develop it in a person’s life. That’s what art is about. It’s not just about painting pretty pictures, it’s about self development.”

Ms Sarin said she welcomed the opportunity for members of the community to talk to her about art courses for self development. She can be contacted on 021 210 7152.

“It’s exciting to see where our country is heading in celebrating our success in the creative sense.

“Let's not hide under the covers. Let's say, ‘hey, this is what we’re good at’ and let the world know.”

ENDS

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