Enthusiastic enamel artist showing with gusto in Whanganui

Whanganui artist Heina Petzold still has plenty of his enamel glass work to show after selling this prize-winning piece in Orewa. Photo/Stuart Munro

Enamel-glass artist Heina Petzold was hoping that his winning work The World Within would feature in his exhibition at the Fine Arts Whanganui gallery this week.

The white Carrara marble sculpture, adorned with his vibrant kiln-fired enamel-glass on-lays won third place at the prestigious New Zealand Mosaic Arts Awards at the Estuary Arts Gallery in Orewa - and then it got sold.

Fortunately, there are plenty of his other works in his With Gusto exhibition currently on show at 17 Taupō Quay.

Born in Berlin, Petzold has lived in New Zealand since 1980, and derives inspiration from New Zealand's natural landscape - rock formations, river valleys, mountains, lakes.

Together with his sculptor partner Eva Busch, he works at the Awa Art Hub in Gloucester St in Whanganui.

The couple had the large marble piece that would become The World Within in the living room for a while before he decided to transform it.

"I bent the copper to the right shapes before applying the glass and the colours represent the hot and cold, positive and negative feelings we all experience," he said.

Although he thought he would be bringing the work back to Whanganui, he is happy that it has gone to a good home.

"It will live at a health retreat and sit in a prominent place at the entrance."

Petzold's series of works on show at the Whanganui gallery are reflections on the nature of the changing landscape.

Some are from his Faultline Series, which included the use of volcanic ash from Mt Ruapehu with his enamels.

With Gusto is now showing at Whanganui Fine Arts Gallery, 17 Taupo Quay, until November 8.