Artworks spread city's name across globe

IT'S that time of the year when visitors and locals hit the art trail around Whanganui.

The Open Studios event provides access to the rich vein of talent that runs through this community, some of which is mined for overseas markets.

This week, if you see someone pondering a map and looking bewildered, step up and check it out. They will be visitors from out of town, from across the water or the other side of the world. They might speak English but may have trouble with "Kiwish aktuly", so mind your diphthongs when explaining how to find an Open Studio and introduce them to local hospitality and the wonders of Whanganui coffee.

Whanganui's reputation in the arts is growing. It is recognised as a centre for glass art internationally. Work created here has been sold to buyers in New York and Adelaide, reinforced with connections and artistic exchanges between here, Australia, Canada and the USA. One of those competing in the synchronised glass blowing event on Saturday night as part of the Glass Olympics is here from New York as part of the ongoing revolving door of cultural exchange and connection between artists around the world.

Whanganui artists are creating work worthy of international merit and demonstrating that although we are a small town settled around a river, this setting provides an ideal base for creative work. Studio and gallery space is available at relatively low rent, the growing critical mass of creative people is supportive and collaboration makes many things possible that would be hard to bring together in a major centre.

With digital tools it is possible to market art and creative talent from the banks of the awa to the streets of New York. Geography presents no boundaries to selling and sending art work to all corners of the world from here.

There are some complications that can arise with taking glass work across borders. It contains lead, so airport scanners and customs take a special interest in what's in the carefully packaged containers. A local artist tells of taking a piece of work through an airport and exciting considerable attention when declaring their luggage contained a glass gun. Of course it was the "gun" word that made armed security suddenly appear and demand that it be lifted out "very carefully". On realising that it was actually a gun shape in glass everyone relaxed. Its unusual beauty was admired with compliments on the artistry and skill involved - then they allowed it to be carried on-board with a tag attached saying glass gun.

The other side of risk when arranging the transport of art work is the sorry tale of carefully crated and packed paintings that, on loading, were serious damaged when a forklift put its prongs straight through the middle of the lot. Just picturing this picture is enough to make anyone weep.

Many years ago there was a call from the creative community to get the Wanganui District Council to promote the town as a place that valued artists.

However, at the time the Council was obsessed with becoming a hub for sports events. They thought of the arts as having no economic benefit so they missed that boat and by the time they realised their mistake it had already sailed to Nelson.

Whanganui is now in a strong position as a developing centre of excellence in the arts and could keep building this reputation into a major asset. The gravitational pull of art and artist across all mediums; painting, sculpture, glass or music is what makes the world go round and Whanganui is turning with it.

Terry Sarten is a Wanganui-based writer and musician - feedback: tgs@inspire.net.nz