2025 Exhibitions
Uniqueness
Morrinsville Intermediate
20 August to 7 September
Welcome to our Art Exhibition 'Uniqueness',
where the creativity and individuality of our students take centre stage.
Our exhibition celebrates the creativity and individuality of our students, showcasing artworks that reflect their unique perspectives and personal stories. Using a range of mediums, including Pasifika Tapa/Siapo, Tim Burton-inspired pieces, and self-directed creations, the students have explored both traditional and contemporary approaches. From delicate shading to bold, imaginative interpretations, each artwork highlights their developing technical skills and ability to share emotions, narratives, and cultural identity. Through their exploration of light, shadow, and form, these young artists invite you to step into their world, where every piece stands as a testament to their growing confidence and artistic voice.
About Morrinsville Intermediate School
Located in the heart of Morrinsville, Waikato, Morrinsville Intermediate School is a vibrant learning community dedicated to fostering creativity, curiosity, and growth.
Our students are encouraged to explore their passions, develop their talents, and contribute to both our school and the wider community.
At Morrinsville Intermediate, we strive to provide a supportive and dynamic environment where every learner can thrive.
'Kia U Ki Te Pai - Whatever you do, let it be your best'
Our Art Journey
Community Gallery
29 July - 17 August
Artists of Morrinsville College Year 13 Students
The Year 13 exhibition showcases the unique journey or individual pathway each artist takes, encompassing their chosen medium, style, subject matter, and the development of their artistic voice. Throughout their schooling our Year 13s have explored, experimented, and evolved as artists, ultimately leading to a personal and recognisable style. ‘Our Art Journey’ is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate this artistic journey.
Morrinsville College is a state secondary school located in Morrinsville, Waikato, New Zealand. The school has a roll of approximately 749 students from Years 9 to 13. They have a dedicated Arts Programme which has enjoyed a good relationship with the gallery for many years - notably holding an exhibition every couple of years. The School Motto is ‘Be of service to others and be truthful to yourself’ ‘Mahia te pai ki te katoa me te whakapono hoki ki a koe ano’, which seems to reflect the spirit of this latest show in our lovely Community Gallery. The kids are excited to share their work as we here at the gallery, in conjunction with teacher Sarah Bennett, are proud to enable this event.
The Artists:
Rebecca Baker Gracie Johns
Lily-Ann van der Hulst Risa Onda
Vena Suon Kyla Davison
Kleara Chim Sophie MacBeth
Laura Crane Shea Weightman
Rebecca Aitchison Hunter Johnston
Bianca Allen Tabitha Kinley
Megan Goodall
Where Colour Lives
Meg Gaddum
Whakaaturanga Gallery
22 July - 10 Aug
Opening Celebration:
Sat 26 July 11am - 1.30pm
Exploring colour, line and geometry,
Meg Gaddum's beautiful show is
not to be missed
Meg Gaddum’s abstract work draws on a background of science, agriculture and landscape architecture. Often reflecting a subtle commentary on climate change, land use, and a tension between freedom and control. Exploring colour, line and geometry, the works are primarily in oils or encaustic on board and use sustainable materials wherever possible.
Where Colour Lives at the Morrinsville Gallery 2025
A Gisborne-born artist whose abstract works are inspired by decades spent farming in the Gisborne hill country and exposure to many art forms. Now based at Ōhiwa Harbour, she works primarily in oils and encaustic, using sustainable materials wherever possible. Her practice draws on a background in science, agriculture, and landscape architecture, and often reflects subtle commentary on climate change, land use, and the tension between freedom and control. Meg explores colour, line and geometry through mixed media, mostly on board and sealed with beeswax. Her paintings balance structure and spontaneity, inviting viewers to find pleasure, memory, and quiet reflection within layered marks and shifting forms.
Artist Statement - Meg Gaddum 2025:
I paint with oils and mixed media—such as collage, ink, and pencil—because I believe acrylics contribute unnecessarily to plastic waste. As part of my effort to build a sustainable art practice, I seal my work with a natural beeswax product. Recently, I’ve also begun working in encaustic, a 2,000-year-old method using melted beeswax mixed with tree resin. What could be more natural?
My husband, Bob, now frames my paintings with cypress wood harvested from trees we planted on our farm—another step toward sustainability and self-sufficiency. My work often explores the interface between freedom and control. I've come to realise that whether you're a child or an adult—navigating politics, religion, society, or any life journey—freedom almost always comes with rules. I begin with geometric shapes, using brush and pencil to explore variations in hue and line. Often, I use a grid to introduce structure and bring order for the viewer. Finally, expressive, handmade brushmarks add energy, spontaneity, and life to the work.
Artist Bio - Meg Gaddum 2025:
Meg Gaddum spent much of her life on isolated farms in the Gisborne hill country, where the beautiful natural surroundings nurtured her love of art. She grew up surrounded by artists in her extended family—visiting, painting, attending galleries with them, and receiving art materials and prints brought back from their overseas travels. “When I was about 10, I was given a box of French pastels—so juicy and densely pigmented they flowed onto my sketches.”
Her aptitude for science led her into a career in agriculture and horticulture, later followed by intensive studies in design and a master’s degree in landscape architecture. Throughout these years, she and her husband farmed a sheep and cattle station in Gisborne for over 40 years.
Landscape architecture rekindled her passion for painting and drawing, ultimately leading her to pursue an art career. Largely self-taught through books and online courses, she has also studied with international tutors. She works in oils and, more recently, in encaustic.
Her abstract landscapes are shaped by observation and critique, with subtle commentary on climate change, housing, and land development—but always with the aim of evoking pleasure and memory. With her children grown, she now lives with her husband Bob and their two dogs on the shores of beautiful Ōhiwa Harbour.
Her work is regularly accepted into regional exhibitions across New Zealand, and she has held several solo shows. She also sells directly from her studio.
The Thames Connection
Awatea Gallery
28 June - 10 August
Final Days to see Khordashi up close and personal
A wonderful selection of sculpture and art brought to us by Vessel Gallery and the Ngākau Sculpture and Carving Symposium of Thames
The Ngākau Carving Symposium - an annual event held in April school holidays - have loaned some incredible carving and Vessel Gallery at 752 Pollen St, Thames also shared some of their beautiful mahi, bringing a flavour of ‘the greater Waikato’ in the spirit of our current Matariki show. Don’t miss your chance to be amazed by Khordashi the dragon, by Marti Wong. Come on in to hear more about these creative enterprises.
Echoes of Identity
Matamata Intermediate
2 July to 27 July 2025
Community Gallery
Curator's comment:
We are looking forward with great anticipation to seeing and hearing about this year's Matamata Intermediate Show. We were beyond impressed with the standard of work last year. My discussions with the lead teacher for this project Genvieve Southcombe has been about printmaking and an Intermediate School Art Symposium held in Fairfield that I witnessed myself.
The gallery is moving forward with a two to three yearly repeating program for Schools in the district so that we can offer the opportunity to exhibit to more of the district's schools, an initiative we are excited to proceed with in 2026.
About the Matamata Intermediate School
Matamata Intermediate is an exciting and vibrant school. At Matamata Intermediate, we pride ourselves on providing a unique environment specifically designed to develop the talents, confidence & independence of the emerging adolescent in Years 7 & 8.
Our school vision is: Inspired learners. Empowered to achieve. We have always had achievement at the heart of our school’s purpose from day one with ‘whaia te kaha’ as our school motto. The core virtues of commitment, common-sense and consideration, known as the 3Cs, underpin all we do in our stimulating learning environment. We also encourage a growth mindset to support the development of perseverance and resilience.
Matariki in Morrinsville
FINAL WEEKEND
18 June - 20 July
A gorgeous array of Matariki themed Artwork a truly wonderful variety of work from all over the Waikato
Artistic talent from all over the Waikato have come together to share their vision of Matariki. Free entry event - all welcome
MATARIKI EXHIBITION at the Morrinsville Gallery 2025
We are thrilled to host individuals of all ages and abilities to exhibit in this show to celebrate coming together in the gallery during Matariki month. For the second time, Morrinsville Gallery has hosted an exhibition gleaned from our community and themed around key elements of the Matariki celebration.
With the intention of bringing the community together to celebrate our collective creativity and honour this special holiday.
This year Puanga, the brightest star in the Orion constellation takes a starring role in Matariki appearing first In the late autumn with Matariki appearing in the early winter night sky.
The three key elements around the celebration are that of
Remembrance (of those that have passed since Matariki first appeared last year.
Celebration of the present (our harvest)
Looking to the future, embracing what lies ahead.
Sam Mitchell
Pineapple Lips, 2010
Oil on canvas board
Collection of the Arts House Trust
Play
The Arts House Trust Collection
Due to popular demand, we have extended this incredible show for one more week. Don't miss this opportunity!
13 May - 27 July, 2025
Play presents artworks from The Arts House Trust’s collection for children and audiences of all ages to enjoy. The works on display may recall playful experiences from our childhood, offering a sense of wonder and excitement as everyday objects are transformed from the mundane. Several pieces feature animals as protagonists – these portraits might remind us of cherished pets from long past. Another theme is constructed worlds, recalling microcosms and utopias that echo the imaginative landscapes we once built during childhood play.
This exhibition explores how artists channel their inner child through imaginative and playful approaches. Sam Mitchell’s small painting Pineapple Lips (2010) features a tropical parrot; her portrait on a canvas book cover evokes memories of hardcover children’s books, colouring-in contests, and our early attempts to draw beloved pets. Debra Bustin’s Boat Painting (1985), a whimsical construction of wire frame, paper, and paint, functions as a wall sculpture that captures the same sense of wonder as mobiles suspended above a baby’s cot.
Play reflects the creative process by which artists transform everyday objects into works of art. Their methods often resemble playful activities, using a wide variety of materials and exploring diverse subjects. In this sense, contemporary art can be seen as art for everyone—inviting personal responses shaped by our own experiences. This is the power of art in our lives: it allows us to dream, to step outside the present, and to see the world from new perspectives.
Featured Artists:
Alexander Bartleet, Conrad Blain-Caunce, Daniel Malone, Debra Bustin, Desmond Ford, Don Driver, Hamish Palmer, John Oxborough, Lauren Lysaght, Malcolm Ford, Mark Lewington, Michael Morgan, Miranda Parkes, Patrick Malone, Paul Radford, Philip Trusttum, Rohan Wealleans, Sam Mitchell, Sam Rountree Williams, Scott Eady
Unsung Heroes - In Plain Sight
Exhibition by artist Adrian Cook
The exhibition has been extended and is now showing within the Art House Trust Space
For the first time, Morrinsville Gallery celebrates the amazing volunteers in our Matamata- Piako District through a fascinating photography exhibition by artist Adrian Cook.
The Morrinsville Gallery is pleased to announce an upcoming photography exhibition that highlights the unsung heroes in our Matamata Piako District.
From May 27 to June 22, 2025, artist Adrian Cook will display unique wet plate collodion images to honour the everyday heroes who make a difference in the communities of Te Aroha, Matamata, and Morrinsville.
Morrinsville Gallery proudly acknowledges the incredible volunteers in our Matamata-Piako District. We extend our gratitude to the generous support from Adrian Cook Photography, Volunteering Waikato, Harcourts Foundation, MPD Creative Communities, MPDC, Visa Legal, Power Farming, CWG Law, Imagine If Creative Studios, and Rural Urban Surveyors.
Poster Credits: Brian Gibson - Dedicated Volunteer at the Morrinsville Gallery and Morrinsville RSA. Image Courtesy of Adrian Cook Photography.
Adrian Cook Statement: IN PLAIN SIGHT – A Portrait of Volunteerism
Awatea Gallery, May 27 to June 22, 2025
Volunteers are all around us—working tirelessly, shaping our communities, and making an impact in ways that often go unnoticed. Their dedication is woven into the fabric of our daily lives, yet they remain almost invisible unless we take the time to look closely.
This series of portraits was created using the wet plate collodion process, a 19th-century photographic technique that produces images on glass. As ambrotypes, these portraits exist in a unique state - when held to the light, they appear as negatives, ghostly and translucent, much like the quiet, unrecognized efforts of volunteers. But with the simple addition of a dark background, the image transforms into a positive - fully formed, vivid and alive.
This shift from invisible to visible is at the heart of this exhibition. Volunteers are always in plain sight, yet their work often blends into the background. Only when we pause and focus do we see the full picture—the dedication, the sacrifice, and the quiet impact they have on our lives. By presenting these portraits on glass, I invite viewers to look closer - to see beyond the surface and truly recognize the individuals who dedicate themselves to the service of others.
These are the faces of our community’s unseen force. They have always been here. This is their moment to be seen.
Eden in the Waikato
Peter Dornauf
Wednesday May 27 - June 15, 2025
Welcome to our next Arts on Tuesday event on the 10th of June at 10.30am where Adrian Cook and Peter Dornauf will talk about their inspiration, practice and colourful careers.
We are very excited to present this cohesive series of Peter Dornauf's evocative and beautiful paintings in the Whakaaturanga Gallery. A writer and painter and a man who wears many hats, he is well known to have a wonderful way with words and clearly also with a brush!
Please note that his show is open for 3 weeks only, so don't delay coming in to see it and or perhaps also take the opportunity to join us for Arts on Tuesday on the 10th of June, as Peter will share with us about his career and craft. See the events section for more info on this.
ARTIST STATEMENT
This new series of paintings, entitled, EDEN IN THE WAIKATO, centers around an evocation of the Waikato landscape, specially focusing on agrarian settings and presented in pastoral idyllic terms.
They use the allusion to the Garden of Eden as a controlling metaphor to express the happy experience the artist had of living (as a child – that time of innocence) on a Waikato farm. But they go beyond that by presenting the motif as a vision and ideal, in a broad sense, for humanity as a whole.
Included in the imagery are references to New Zealand made toys – the Fun Ho! brand, particularly the vintage pieces that hark back nostalgically to a period of time often referred to as the “golden age” in this country.
All the works, in different ways, celebrate that time and place as a kind of paradise, a bucolic encounter, which often is only realized and appreciated long after the experience is over, when looking back.
Both Colin McCahon (Nelson and Canterbury) and Shane Cotton (Ohaeawai) have, in their own fashion, explored similar ideas attached to their own special time and place in these islands, but this is the first occasion anyone has done the same for the Waikato.
Recently I have published a long poem (58 pages) called, I REMEMBER I FORGET, which explores the same themes but in a literary way, while using many of the paintings in this exhibition to help illustrate the text.
ARTIST BIO
Peter Dornauf is a Waikato artist and writer who has been practicing his craft and exhibited for over 40 years. His painting style is an eclectic mix of naïve expressionism with touches of abstraction. He has had two retrospective exhibitions at the Waikato Museum & Gallery, Te Whare Taonga O Waikato, and recently wrote the commissioned book, 101 Contemporary Waikato Artists, to help celebrate the Friends of the Museum’s fifty-year anniversary.
His works are held in both private collections and public institutions.
Inspiration
David Street School Art Show
27 May – 15 June
Yet again the Morrinsville Gallery proudly rejoices in celebrating and embracing young artists of our community. Come along and see this wonderfully creative show by the David Street Primary School, be amazed at the inspired work. The evidential skill and passion of their teachers shines through in the wonderful array of work presented here by the youngsters in their charge. This is a show for everyone to be proud of.
Curator Statement by Jo Keogh
At David Street School, our motto Kia Māia – Have Courage guides everything we do, inspiring our learners to take creative risks and express themselves boldly. Our vision, A Community of Courageous Learners, is brought to life through opportunities like our annual art exhibition, where every student from Year 0 to Year 6 contributes a unique piece of work. This year, we are proud to showcase the artistic voices of over 480 students in a vibrant celebration of creativity.
The theme of our 2025 exhibition is Inspiration—a powerful concept explored through books, nature, culture, and influential artists. Each artwork tells its own story, reflecting the personal sparks of imagination that motivate our learners. From bold colours and thoughtful compositions to playful experimentation with materials, students have drawn from the world around them to create something truly special.
A curated selection of student art is proudly displayed on our gallery walls, offering visitors a glimpse into the diverse interpretations of inspiration across age groups. The remaining artworks are carefully compiled in class folders, ensuring every student’s contribution is valued and preserved. This exhibition is not only a testament to the creativity of our students but also to the courageous spirit that defines our school community.
I AM WOMAN
by Annah Stretton
A Celebration of 33 years of style,
soul and social disruption
FINAL WEEKEND, don't miss this wonderful show, that has collectively brought so much joy to our visitors from near and far, a true testament to Annah and her fantastic team!
1 to 25 May 2025
Occupying all three of Morrinsville Gallery spaces, this amazing exhibition will surprise and entrall.
Morrinsville Gallery proudly presents I Am Woman, a bold and deeply personal exhibition from celebrated fashion designer, artist, and changemaker Annah Stretton. Running from 1 to 25 May 2025, this dynamic showcase honours 33 years of the Annah Stretton brand – a legacy built on fearless fashion, feminine empowerment, and a deep commitment to social good.
From the runways of New Zealand Fashion Week to a decade of showstopping World of Wearable Art (WOW) entries, I Am Woman invites audiences to experience fashion as theatre, as activism, and as storytelling. Featured in the exhibition are a dramatic static re-creation of her Annah in Wonderland runway, a selection of four standout WOW garments, and a vibrant collection of works that reflect her love of colour, florals, and form.
Annah’s journey goes far beyond fashion. In 2013, she founded RAW (Reclaim Another Woman), a pioneering initiative supporting wāhine affected by incarceration and adversity. She also chairs the Waikato Women’s Refuge, and contributes to the work of True Colours Children’s Health Trust and the Breast Cancer Research Trust, creating tangible pathways for hope and healing across Aotearoa.
Annah Stretton redefines what it means to lead with heart and purpose. Her brand honours the past, transforms the present, and shapes the future – a future where every woman is celebrated for her strength, not judged by her past. She champions second chances and believes every woman has the right to become the queen of her own life.
Alongside her design work, Annah is a published author and former magazine publisher, using her platforms to inspire, uplift, and challenge the status quo.
With courage, creativity, and compassion, Annah Stretton continues to craft a legacy that dresses the body, inspires the soul, and leaves lasting change in its wake.
Media enquiries:
sami@strettonclothing.co.nz
Visit: annahstretton.co.nz | raw.org.nz
And
Gina Barreto, director@morrinsvillegallery.org.nz
Doris Lusk
Benmore I, 1974
Mixed media on hardboard
Collection of the Arts House Trust
The Rutherford Trust Collection (Past)
Tracing Our Art History
The Arts House Trust Gallery
Final week of this fabulous exhibition 4 March - 11 May 2025
The Arts House Trust holds a collection of over 9500 works, covering a century of New Zealand art - from Francis Hodgkins to the contemporary. This exhibition presents mostly mid-century works from the Collection; featuring artists from a generation of New Zealand painters that emerged in the 1930s, whose main preoccupation was with place and local identity. They developed a New Zealand regionalism, with realist depictions of small town and rural life. The portraits on display acknowledge people of the period, with several by Toss Woollaston. Also included are small works by Ralph Hotere and Selwyn Muru, in reference to the blossoming of Māori art during this period.
Doris Lusk’s Benmore I (1974) represents a detail of the Benmore Earth Dam and spillway. One of three hydro stations on the Waitaki River, the Benmore Dam formed the largest artificial lake in New Zealand when it opened in 1965. Lusk formed a new practice in the early 1970s which evolved out of her watercolours, applying acrylic paint in a wash technique on wet canvas. It enabled her to work on a larger scale and to be more experimental. This is evident in this painting where sections are produced by different means. Lusk drew the dam structure with pencil and coloured pencil. By contrast, the surrounding landscape is depicted with acrylic washes. There is one area on the lower right where Lusk attached a piece of canvas as a late alteration.
In Toss Woollaston’s Portrait Of A Seated Character (1970), the curious little figure in the strange hat is perched in a large Victorian armchair that inhabited Woollaston’s studio for many years. The chair has a personality of its own that makes its presence felt in many of Woollaston’s portraits. While he was a dedicated and prolific portrait painter, Woollaston’s concerns in depicting people were often more formal than psychological. The subject of this intimate and intriguing painting is unclear, and the identity of the sitter is unknown. Much more evident in the work are the compositional and chromatic techniques that Woollaston derived from Cézanne and other pioneering artists of early European modernism.
Artists Included:
Rita Angus
Peter Beadle
Leo Bensemann
Ruth Browne
Alan Gilderdale
Rudolf Gopas
Ralph Hotere
Louise Henderson
Doris Lusk
Selwyn Muru
Helen Stewart
Charles Tole
A Lois White
Desmond Wood
John Weeks
Toss Woollaston
Cogs of Life
Charlotte Waugh
The Community Gallery
Please note due to circumstances beyond our control Charlotte's exhibition has joined Perspectives space in the Whakaaturanga Gallery until the situation can be rectified.
1 April - 27 April 2025
Opening Celebration
All welcome!
A free event on Sunday the 6th of April from 11am to 1pm
Artist Biography and statement:
As a self-taught artist based in Matamata and a mother of two, my creative journey is deeply influenced by my upbringing and environment. Growing up surrounded by my father’s work as an antique dealer and restorer, I was captivated by the unique trinkets and treasures that filled his workshop. These objects sparked my imagination, blending the past with the present and allowing me to explore the intersection of history, craftsmanship, and nature. My art draws on the aesthetics of steampunk and Victorian industrialism, intertwining them with elements of the natural world to create a conversation between the two worlds.
Through my work, I aim to provoke thought and reflection on the relationship between industrialisation and the environment. The fusion of mechanical elements with organic forms invites viewers to consider the impact of human progress on the natural world. Each piece serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between innovation and preservation, encouraging a deeper exploration of how the two can coexist—or clash— in our evolving world.
Fragments of Aotearoa and Peru
Francisca Edwards
The Awatea Gallery
1 April - 27 April 2025
Opening Celebration
All welcome!
A free event on Sunday the 6th of April from 11am to 1pm
Artist Background
Hola, my name is Francisca, and I came to Aotearoa 19 years ago. You may say I have been Kiwified but my Peruvian roots run deep.
As an immigrant I have embraced New Zealand ways while still maintaining my Latin American identity. I love to eat a good Ceviche (Peru’s national dish) but long gone are the days when I could not stand the smell of Marmite; you can now catch me enjoying Marmite on toast. I celebrate Matariki rising in winter and Peru’s Independence Day every July 28th.
I say “sweet as” with my unshakable Latin accent and each December I gather with loved ones to observe the Hispanic tradition of eating 12 grapes to welcome the New Year.
My love for nature is a huge inspiration for my photography. It has also inspired me to help conservation initiatives such as the Pirongia Kōkako Project, where I supported efforts to protect the native kōkako and other taonga species.
Being part of the Waikato Hispano Latino community allows me to support and participate in cultural events that celebrate my Latin origins. It is also a way to feel connected to my first home – Peru, to celebrate and pass on that cultural gift to my son.
Throughout my life photography has been my all-time passion. I have a bachelor’s degree in communications science and majored in journalism. Back in Peru, I worked for the Press and Society Institute based in Lima. The institute promoted investigative journalism, freedom of expression and access of public information in Latin America. Here in New Zealand, I have used my journalistic skills as the editor of various newsletters in Fonterra telling the stories of people and bringing the human face of the company to the fore.
Work above by Diane Scott
Pen and Ink work Below by Keirryn Hintz and the photography below by Jay Drew
Perspectives
The Whakaaturanga Gallery
1 April - 27 April 2025
Diane Scott
Keirryn Hintz
Jay Drew
Opening Celebration
All welcome!
A free event on Sunday the 6th of April from 11am to 1pm
'Perspectives' is a collaboration from 3 artists - bringing together urban sketching, painting and photography to showcase different perspectives of natural and urban scenery. Keirryn Hintz's work showcases familiar Waikato architecture through urban sketching. Her popular artwork allows viewers to connect with familiar locations and destinations from the region. Diane Scott focuses on expressionist abstract landscapes by using bold strokes, muted palettes and texture. Her art includes locations within the Waikato region, and wider New Zealand. Jay Drew's photography captures the small details amongst vast urban, rural and other landscape settings. Her eye for interesting subjects is intriguing and captivating.
Mixed media painting, Worlds by Birgitt Shannon, 1000x1000
Gifted Hands, Rebooted
5 March to 30 March, 2025,
Awatea Gallery
Opening Sunday, 11 March at 11am
A re-view of a selection of works from the January exhibition
Presented by
Morrinsville Gallery Shop Artists
This exciting exhibition, brings together our diverse and talented ‘shop’ artists. As the name implies, it is a show that reveals more of their personal selves, their personal artistic passion.
2025 Gordonton Art & Design Trail ~ Preview Exhibition
A celebration of their 5th anniversary.
4 to 30 March, 2025
Whakaaturanga Gallery
A wonderfully diverse group exhibition of current work by the Gordonton Arts & Design Trail participants - effectively a preview to this years trail.
In 2021 The Gordonton Art & Design Trail came together when practising local artist Mindy Singh of Bola Ceramics, realised the potential of the broad artistic talent she had encountered in the Gordonton area.
She and eight other local artists got together and opened their studios to the visiting public. Since then the Trail has grown, this year they invited other artists from the surrounding areas to join them in exhibiting their works.
2025 will be the 5th year running the trail, it was collectively decided to give it an extra push to celebrate the milestone. Thus the idea to promote ‘the trail’ by holding this exhibition of work from most of the artists that form the trail, to showcase the diverse cross-section of art and mediums.
Artists include: Grant Taylor - wood-turner. Grant is the chairman of the Waikato Guild of Woodcraft and is reaching out to the younger generation to pass on wood-turning skills. Sally-Ann Riddell - printmaker and sculptural artist. Her primary medium has been intaglio etchings. She is now creating birdhouses and art for the garden. Gemma Reid - printmaker working with intaglio collograph. Gemma utilizes the clear quality of light in NZ to capture historic architecture. Jacquie Haselden - painter whose career has spanned over 36 years. Her works reflect an interest in narrative connected to her ancestral place. Mindy Singh - ceramic artist creating utilitarian, serviceable range of ceramics to enhance the pleasure of food and nourishment of the soul.
The organising committee consists of volunteer artists who are involved in the trail. It’s a team effort, a labour of love and is non-profit. We do it because we want to showcase our hardworking diverse community and support the local businesses of the Gordonton area.
Click here for further details about the Trail, which is held at various locations around Gordonton on the 5th and 6th of April 2025.
23, 24, 25…Life U-Turns…Fate?
My 360-degree journey as a conversation starter
5 March to 28 March, 2025,
Community Gallery
Opening Sunday, 11 March at 11am
Presented by
Pepa Torre
Director’s Statement
Photographer. Dancer. Singer. Connector. Immigrant. Radio Host. Spanish-kiwi. People lover. Story-teller. Flamenco enthusiast… and much more. Meet the talented artist Pepa Torre and get ready to be provoked by her multimedia installation, 23, 24, 25…Life U-Turns…Fate? Dive into the immersive photo cube, for the first time ever.
You are invited to join Pepa for an intimate conversation as she reflects on her unique 360o life journey from Spain to New Zealand, through 25 years of exploring through time and generations. Pepa explains “I believe in our individual multi-uniqueness which interconnects with each other’s personal multi-uniqueness’s. In this project, I dare to demonstrate that digging into our many definitions of self, we will always find something in common with any other person in the room. I believe that deep inside it all, our main human seeds are very similar to each other’s”.
The artist’s immersive cube explores identity, culture, social and personal transformation, and questions what really matters, step inside a multi-media 3D collage, one of her favourite story-telling techniques. In 23, 24, 25…Life U-Turns...Fate? Pepa examines themes central to our multicultural community, going an extra step by questioning the public about their own lives and thoughts. She invites all visitors to connect and share their views and thoughts, considering the challenges – in the artists own words – “of being from here and from there and still not from here nor from there”.
This exhibition has been passionately curated by Pepa Torre with the help of Morrinsville Gallery curator Elizabeth Borrows and supported by the MPDC Creative Scheme.
Artist Statement
A Spanish born artist, my grandparents lived a civil war (each of them belonging to different political parties). Cadiz, my town, was house to the first liberal constitution signed. They named that important document “La Pepa”.
From a family of medical professionals and lawyers, my artistic side was often attempted to be put aside but was too strong to be dismissed and I grew up learning to not apologise for choosing creativity as my way to be.
Recipient of a national photography award and other titles (master’s in photography), I became a professional photographer, afraid of being ripped-off my story-telling essence.
My interests in people, human rights and finding the whys of the world have been my biggest drivers. I use art to investigate and share my ideas with understanding humans a continuous theme. Understanding my own self first, is the most direct route; an eternal conflict of love-hate for tradition; how I negotiate mixed-race’s dilemmas and raise children that correct me in the language I taught them.
Immigrants’ lives are full of challenges, but I believe in the positive power of diversity, and so I find any opportunity to celebrate it.
There is an idea that has taken over all others: “what is the same and different at the same time”. Humans, countries, the sky, bodies, hair, cheese… there is a core that gets covered by different shapes yet in the end, the essence never changes. That is who we are, over space, skin colour and generations. The hearts of all people are pure and simple before they may get contaminated. What we do with it takes us to places A or B. The beauty is that wherever we are we can always do a U-turn.
Tartan II & III, shown above.
Tessuto di Vetro - Glass Fabric
Dermot Kelly
- Glass Artist
We are proud to present this vibrant exhibition with examples of woven glass work Tessuto di Vetro - Glass Fabric. A reference to the origin of the material, Venice Italy.
Last Days, don't miss this extraordinary show
Awatea - Shop Front Gallery
4 February - 4 March 2025
Extended by two days
Dermot has an incredible pedigree when it comes to his artistic career. He has predominantly worked with glass since learning how to retore stained glass using the leadlight process at Creative Stained Glass in Perth in the mid-late 80's. His thirst for artistic direction took him into bronze casting, life drawing, harakeke weaving, ceramics, glass etching, glass design and studying for a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Elam (Auckland University) 2010 - 2012.
He has exhibited in dozens of group and solo shows over that time, mostly in Auckland, Northland and in more recent years in the Waikato. He currently has two wonderful pieces showing at Waitakaruru Sculpture Park. He created public and private commissioned pieces far and wide.
We are very excited to have Dermot present this show of mostly new works within our new window front gallery. We hope that you can come along to the combined opening with Larry Abreno's Coffee Art show and the 7 Artists show, Now and Then. The opening is to be held on February 9th from 11am, though the exhibitions will be open to the public from the 4th of February.
There is no registration required for the opening, and we have no entry fees, all are welcome. Please sign up for our newsletter to receive up-to-date info about all of our shows, past, present and upcoming.
Vicki Carruthers
Braided Rivers
Now and Then
7 Artists explore landscapes, nature and emotions in paint, mixed media and stone
Whakaturanga Gallery
4 February - 2 March 2025
Last Days!
Vicki Carruthers, Pauline Tapping, Catherine Smith, Joy Yeates Ross, Marion Bailey, Yvonne Singleton and Robyn McBride
7 Artists explore landscapes, nature and emotions in paint, mixed media and stone.
Seven artists explore landscapes, nature and emotions in paint, mixed media and stone.
We are a group who draw on over 20 years of collective support and encouragement to showcase works that vary in media, colour, subject and form. We have exhibited annually from 2001 to 2020, including at Morrinsville Gallery, ArtsPost Gallery (Hamilton), Calder and Lawson Gallery (Academy of Performing Arts, Waikato University), Sandz Gallery (Hamilton), Thornton Gallery (Hamilton), Depot Artspace (Devonport), The Pumphouse (Takapuna), and Estuary Arts Centre (Orewa). Some of us have also exhibited in small group and solo exhibitions during that time and subsequently.
This exhibition provides a selection of works that highlight the diversity of seven different styles and perspectives of landscapes, natural forms and emotions. The works vary in colour, media, form and degree of abstraction.
We at the Morrinsville Gallery look forward to hosting this exciting event in our expansive Whakaturanga exhibition space. We are anticipating a beautiful show.
Media Oil on canvas, acrylic on canvas, mixed media, Takaka marble
suSTAINably Different
Larry Abreño
The Community Gallery
4 February - 2 March 2025
Last Days, and don't miss his workshop this Sunday the 2nd of March
We are excited to announce that Larry is holding a Coffee Painting Workshop on the 2nd of March from 12.30pm - 2.30pm at the Gallery. Please email your name and phone number and number attending to info@morrinsvillegallery.org.nz to book for this exciting event, it will cost $15. Please see our events and workshops page, click here for further details.
The Coffee Artist Guy
Larry Abreño is a modern contemporary artist who creates stunning works using sustainable materials like coffee, wine, berries, tea, acrylic and watercolour. Known for his unique use of coffee as a medium, Larry brings a classic monochromatic effect to his art, adding depth and drama to each piece. Since 2018, he has been a staple at the Art Salon festival and was recently named a finalist in the Adam Portraiture Awards 2024. Larry is also the author of “Drips and Stains: A Coffee Art Journey,” a self-published coffee table book released in 2021. He often shares his process with audiences through live coffee art demonstrations during exhibitions.
Experience the captivating and sustainable artistry of Larry Abreño at the Morrinsville Gallery.
Gifted Hands, Hidden Works
10 January to 2 February, 2025,
Whakaaturanga Gallery
The last week to see this beautiful show of work from 25 of our shop artists, over 100 pieces on display.
Look-out for online images of this show and select past exhibitions. An exciting development for the gallery, coming soon.
Presented by
Morrinsville Gallery Shop Artists
This exciting exhibition, brings together our diverse and talented ‘shop’ artists. As the name implies, it is a show that reveals more of their personal selves, their personal artistic passion. They are a group of 25 that have all contributed work to the Morrinsville Gallery Shop, and they have all enthusiastically embraced this concept from the start and brought work they feel expresses their true passions and talents. They are genuinely excited to share with us these original works. If you know and enjoy our gallery shop, we fully expect you will love this show that is designed to allow them to really shine and show us the depth of talent they possess. A showcase – if you will - of their full artistic prowess. The show includes, water colour, acrylic, pastel, sand and glitter paintings, there are prints, sketches and wonderful sculpture in glass and ceramics. Quite honestly a fabulous array of art.
Rachel Kiddie McClure
What Happened To Me Yesterday? 2020
Cross-stitch.
660 x 770mm
Nine Voices, Waikato
The Arts House Trust Gallery
2 December - 2 March 2025
Ahsin Ahsin
Alice Alva
Bridget Barnett
Jennie De Groot
Rachel Kiddie McClure
Cilla Kinnaird
Craig McClure
‘They Call Me Ninu’
Xavier Tapp
Nine Voices, Waikato presents nine contemporary artists from the Waikato region. Their recently created works on display are wall-based and of various media, including textile, painting, collage and drawing. The Arts House Trust (based in Tāmaki Makaurau) has a long-standing partnership with Morrinsville Gallery to hold regular exhibitions that highlight the Trust’s collection. This exhibition was conceived as a new project, to showcase non-collection work from the Waikato region. Many artists based in the Waikato were contacted, requesting expressions of interests and online portfolios. The resulting exhibition, Nine Voices, Waikato, provides a sample of the rich creativity we may encounter in the Waikato region.
There is a broad scope of expression and subject matter in Nine Voices, Waikato. Notably, we can observe qualities of playfulness and humour in several practices. The first two parts of Rachel Kiddie McClure’s cross-stitch triptych include phrases that appear witty, upon first reading. They raise the question: Can these be likened to home décor plaques offering sayings such as ‘Home Sweet Home’? However, the third section of Rachel’s triptych make us re-consider our initial impressions, as it presents writing of a more personal nature. Ahsin Ahsin’s two paintings on display are from his Turbo Croc 2.0 series - an evolution of his seemingly cartoonish ‘Croc’ character, a half human/half crocodile hybrid. He developed his first ‘Croc in 2018, following research into amphora black-figure vase paintings (common in ancient Greek vases). These paintings result from a morph of various sources, including 80s and 90s sci-films and skate culture. Many of the artworks on display can be regarded as being process driven, presenting the creative act in specific media. There are paintings by Jennie De Groot, Cilla Kinnaird and Xavier Tapp, with their unique style and subject matter. Or for instance, Craig McClure’s large ink drawings, textiles by Alice Alva, Bridget Bartnett’s multimedia works, and digital collages by ‘They Call Me Ninu’.
Lastly, in summary - viewers will not encounter, or clearly recognise, the Waikato region in Nine Voices, Waikato. Rather, they may acknowledge the artists and communities who make our places special.
He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata: It is people, it is people, it is people