Guest artists at the Paekākāriki Art Show Tania Verrent, left, and Micheline Robinson. Photo / Rosalie Willis
The Paekākāriki Art Show is back for the sixth time this Anzac weekend after a Covid-related hiatus last year.
Featuring artists mostly from Kāpiti and Wellington, St Peters Hall will be host to work from 65 professional and exceptional part-time artists.
Along with locals, artists are coming from all over the North Island and ex-Kāpiti artist Lyndon Keene has sent work from Australia, where he now lives.
The show has a dual purpose, in providing artists a place to exhibit their work, and in raising funds for the ongoing upkeep and continual restoration of St Peters Hall.
"The show has become well known and we've tended to stick to professional artists," said the show's co-organiser and exhibiting artist Ronda Thompson.
The hall is run by the Paekākāriki Community Trust and owned by the community but the continual upkeep is barely covered by rent from hall users.
As it grows older the hall also needs renovations, with new floors recently being installed.
"The commission from the annual art show and book fair mean we can keep the hall going for the community."
This year's guest artists are Micheline Robinson from Paraparaumu and Tania Verrent from Levin.
"I was honoured to be asked to be a guest artist," Micheline said.
Generally creating her paintings as part of a series, Michelle's work mirrors what is going on in the world.
"My work normally mirrors or is informed by what is happening politically, environmentally, psychologically and so on, whether in the world or in my life.
"One piece being exhibited is called Safe in New Zealand.
"It shows the mixed emotions of being in New Zealand, safe and free while the world is affected by Covid-19.
"I paint birds, wildlife, landscapes, seascapes - I do anything that's natural," Tania said.
With a bird feeder outside her home, Tania takes photos of the birds that come while they're taking a swim or a feed, using them as a guide to create works with intrinsic detail.
The outcome is large scale paintings featuring detailed New Zealand birds along with the occasional exotic creature.
The show opens at St Peters Hall, Paekākāriki, on Friday, April 23 at 6pm, $10 entry fee with first pick of the art and nibbles and drinks provided.
The art show is then open from 9am-5pm on Saturday-Sunday and Monday until early afternoon, with a $2 entry fee, children free.