Artists' powers of creativity on show

ON DISPLAY: Artist Miriam Ruberl with her work Wild Earth IV, which is on display in the council's galleria, along with work by other local artists. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

A collection of 36 works by five local artists will energise Rotorua Lakes Council's public art gallery for the next two months.

The Energy Within exhibition will be officially launched by Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick at a reception tomorrow and will open to the public from Monday.

It will be the third exhibition to be showcased in the council's refurbished Civic Centre Galleria. As with the two previous exhibitions, all art works will be for sale. The works - by Debbi Thyne, Michael Staite, Liz Pearce, Miriam Ruberl, and Michael Smith - explore Rotorua's geothermal and spiritual environment.

The council's community arts advisor Marc Spijkerbosch said he was pleased with the diversity of art works in the exhibition and the chance to offer the community another high quality galleria showing.

"Miriam Ruberl and Michael Staite have used natural media in their pieces, such as local red ochre, while Debbi Thyne and Michael Smith work with acrylic on canvas, and Liz Pearce is showcasing her unique steam punk dolls."

Mrs Chadwick said the Civic Centre Galleria was an "awesome space" to exhibit and showcase Rotorua's talent.

"It brings vibrancy, colour, and a special sense of community ownership to an otherwise formal space.

"It also offers our local artists a professional platform, one which has been successful in achieving a number of sales for the artists during our previous two exhibitions."

Local artists interested in exhibiting in the Civic Centre Galleria in the future are encouraged to add their names to the council's creative communities database. Artists and others interested in the arts can register via the 'creative email sign-up' on the council's Facebook page.