Delta Kitson,9(left), Osamu Nishio, 6, and Ticayla Manson, 8, are three of the 25 children displaying their work at Helium Contemporary New Zealand Art. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER
Delta Kitson,9(left), Osamu Nishio, 6, and Ticayla Manson, 8, are three of the 25 children displaying their work at Helium Contemporary New Zealand Art. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER
Budding Rotorua artists have been given the chance to display their artworks in a real art gallery for the festive season.
Lani Eyles, who runs after school art classes at The Arts Village, said the advent calendar artworks were designed and created by children aged 6 to 12 who attended her classes.
"I like to give them a lot of freedom to create, just like kids do. I give them the processes and then let them go."
Ms Eyles and Helium Contemporary New Zealand Art gallery owner Sarah Ziessen came up with the idea together.
"We were inspired by Mexican dioramas. There are 25 individual artworks, with one
being revealed each day until Christmas, in Sarah's window.
Advent calendar created by children displayed at Helium Contemporary New Zealand Art. Photo/Stephen Parker
"They come in all sorts of mediums but had to fit into the shoebox. They are painted, modelled with cardboard or sculpted with clay. We just thought it was a great opportunity for them to have their work in a real gallery."
Mrs Ziessen said she wanted the children to feel comfortable in and experience a real life art gallery.
"It also opens up a lot of questions and we'd like the adults to think about what is really relevant in the art world," she said.
Mrs Ziessen said it had been a fun experience, both for her and the children.
Little artist Delta Kitson, 9, goes to Kawaha Point School and said she was excited to see her artwork opened on December 9.
"Mine's about a wolf who is calling all the animals for Christmas, and Sage, who is a little bunny rabbit and Onion, her friend, are scared to go because it's hosted by a wolf. There's a kereru in there too, because I was reading about a kereru in a book," Delta said.
"I like how everyone can just be creative with what they are doing, it's a lot of fun."
? To view the advent calendar artworks visit Helium Contemporary New Zealand Art on the corner of Eruera and Tutanekai streets.
