Focus on richness of region

By FEDERICO MONSALVE

With a list of participants reading like a who's who of the West Auckland art world, Lopdell House Gallery in Titirangi will launch its first arts festival on Friday, followed by a fundraising auction in March.

"We want to focus a little on the historical richness of Titirangi," said gallery director Mary Holehan, alluding to the area as being officially nuclear-free, GE-free and an eco-city.

"Titirangi has always been a tourist region and we want to bring people back in to see some of the richness here."

The festival, Fringe of Heaven, includes the work of more than 38 visual artists, photographers, sculptors and performance artists. Among them are Len Castle, Anna Crichton, Dick Frizzell, Darren Glass, John Madden, Mary McIntyre, Sarah Munro, Jeff Thompson and Kate Wells.

The works will be auctioned on March 10.

"We are seeking to raise $300,000 for temperature and humidity control as well as lights systems for the gallery," said Holehan.

"Not having these systems has really hampered our ability to get some works on loan and has made it difficult to tell complete stories through specific exhibits."

If the funding is secured Lopdell House aims to house works by Colin McCahon, focusing on his years in Titirangi, and other shows that have not been possible.

The artists featured in the festival have been chosen not only for their affinity to the work of the gallery but also because they have at one point or another exhibited there.

Works range from anthropological photography of tattooing practices by Mark Adams to a rich landscape composed of thick brushstrokes by Ruth Cole.

The corrugated-iron structures of Jeff Thompson will be displayed alongside jewellery by Brian Adam and an oil-on-canvas painting by Dick Frizzell, Up to Now.

The festival will include performance art with a theme of White Chocolate by Charles Koroneho, Matthew Brennan and Mark Harvey and the spiritual subtleties of beach art by Allie Eagle, who will be creating sand sculptures at Piha.

The result will be an eclectic mix of talents, cradled by the inspiring beauty and serenity of the area.

* Fringe of Heaven at the Lopdell House Gallery, Friday to March 10.