Art in the Park cushy job for Donna

By MIKE MATHER in Rotorua
Life is cushy for Donna Lipinski, in more ways than one.

Cushions are one of the new specialties of the former interior designer who, fed up with the stress and strain of keeping up with the rat race, decided to became an artist.

"It started off as just a way to help me unwind but it has more or less snowballed into something full time," she said.

Donna, who is one of the 34 featured exhibitors in tomorrow's annual Art in the Park festival in the Government Gardens, lives in Rerewhakaaitu. She moved to the rural community south of Rotorua after deciding to take time out from her Tauranga-based interior design business - a move she does not regret. "I am loving getting into the artistic community here ... just meeting totally different people who are totally relaxed is fantastic."

The cushions Donna makes have a Kiwiana theme to them and are adorned with paua shells and flax, as are some of her paintings.

"I guess you could describe my style as simple but effective. I have only really just started dabbling in painting and when I picked up a paint brush, it was for the first time in 20 years."

She heard about Art in the Park through some of her new-found artist friends and decided to enquire at the Rotorua Arts Village about giving it a go.

Now in its ninth year, the annual event combines art with music. As well as the various painters, potters, metalworkers and other artisans displaying their talents, live music will be played on the Rotorua band rotunda throughout the day, including performances by the Rotorua Brass and the Rotorua Symphonic Band, under the conductorship of Grant Langdon.

There is no entry charge for Art in the Park, but people may be tempted to buy from the artists there.