We CAN celebrate invites artists to exhibit

Gina Guerin will be exhibitng at CAN.

As life slips back to something that resembles normality, even with a recovery process to go through, the importance of the arts to our sense of wellbeing is now more prevalent than ever.

It is, in fact, a time for celebration as New Zealand wakes up to a new way of life.

At Creative Arts Napier (CAN) we thought a great way to support our local arts community and celebrate their spirit and tenacity would be to host a collective exhibition titled 'We CAN Celebrate'.

The lockdown bore witness to such a surge of creativity within everyone's bubbles and Hawke's Bay artists were no exception. This exhibition, opening on Friday, June 19, promises to present a diverse and vast selection of what our local art practitioners have to offer.

If you are a Hawke's Bay artist, don't be shy to contact us to reserve your place. There is a small administration fee of $5 per entry, so in the spirit of supporting local, it's affordable too. You could show what you created during lockdown, or another piece you are keen to sell.

We will be encouraging our visitors to buy local and support you, our local artists and designers.

What better way to brighten and refresh your home, than to purchase some beautiful Hawke's Bay art?

Before 'We CAN Celebrate' opens, however, you will find the CAN Main Gallery quite literally bursting with colour, as established artist Gina Guerin exhibits her latest work, in her exhibition 'Serious Colour'.

Gina was brought up in the South Island and didn't really start painting until her eldest daughter was 6 weeks old. Her biggest influence at the time was Nelson artist Jane Evans. She loved her vivid watercolours and wet-on-wet technique.

Gina's subjects at the time were landscape, still life and nudes.

Being a member of the inaugural 'Hawke's Bay Art Trail' enabled her to be a mum at the same time as painting and selling from home.

Then Gina discovered painting with acrylic on canvas which offered a much more affordable, contemporary look. Her influences at that time were Gretchen Albrecht, Max Gimblett and Helen Frankenthaler.

If Gina had to describe herself as an artist she would say that she's a colourist.

She has always been fascinated by colour and what happens when you put different hues together like acid lime green and rich purple.

Her latest works feature large round boards full of colour and coated in a resin varnish to give a glass-like finish.

In the setting of the Main Gallery the colour pops and reverberates, the brilliant hues reflecting on the highly polished wooden floor.

Gina is an experienced painter and art tutor, with a home studio on her Havelock North property, as featured in the Hawke's Bay Art Guide. Her exhibition is on until Thursday, June 18, so come and lose yourself in front of her work for a while.

And lastly, talking of wellbeing, check out the CAN website www.thecan.co.nz or Facebook page for details of our Term 3 evening classes, and upcoming weekend workshops. We have been busy and now it's your turn. Come and join us, celebrate your freedom, be creative and learn a new skill. Numbers are limited on the courses so contact bookings@thecan.co.nz or call 06 835 9448 to check availability.

■ Lisa Feyen is interim manager for Creative Arts Napier (CAN), 16 Byron St. CAN is open seven days a week - from Monday to Saturday, 10am-4pm and Sunday, 10am-2pm. Free entry. Info: 835 9448, thecan.co.nz or Facebook.