Artists shine at Mauriceville School

POP ART POINTILLISM: Hunter Hourigan points out his pop art contribution to the Mauriceville School art exhibition that also included work from community artists.

An art exhibition at Mauriceville School has turned heads at the small country settlement near Masterton.

Pupils, parents and community members attended the early evening grand opening of the exhibition on July 4, the turnout pleasing for everyone at the school, says Leila Ward, 10.

During last term, pupils learned about a range of art styles such as pointillism by George Stuart, pop art by Andy Warhol and neo plasticism by Piet Mondrian.

They also learned about the artists themselves and where they came from.

Pointillism is a type of art made up of small dots, pop art was created by Warhol, an American, and is all about popular culture and repetition. Mondrian's style of art is to do with straight lines, and the use geometric shapes such as squares and rectangles.

In much of his art, he only used the three primary colours - red, yellow and blue - and black and white.

The school borrowed display boards from Masterton Intermediate School, which were in different colours but worn, and Logan Trillo, 9, said pupils painted each of them the same colour to freshen up their appearance.

"It also means we can give them back in better condition than we got them, which is a great way of saying thank you to MIS for letting us use them."

As well as students displaying their work, which was for sale, community artists were offered the opportunity to be involved as well.

"It was cool that we got to sell our art. All of our paintings and drawings have been sold," Logan said.

Also on display at the exhibition were quilts by Lorraine Kelf, graphic design and photography displayed by Regan Gundersen, paintings by Fern Love, photography by Betty Jeeves and a pupil favourite, the motorbike helmet painted and airbrushed by Dave Clifton.