Art to Sea is (from left) Judy Flatt, Laurell Lomath, Jill Maas and Glen Macmillan. Photos / Paul Brooks
Art to Sea is (from left) Judy Flatt, Laurell Lomath, Jill Maas and Glen Macmillan. Photos / Paul Brooks
Art to Sea, the artistic collaboration usually seen in the Duncan Pavilion during Artists Open Studios, has drifted upstream to the Red Door Gallery in Putiki.
Artists Glen Macmillan, Judy Flatt, Laurelle Lomath and Jill Maas are Red Door's October exhibition, with something to delight everyone.
"We are four totally different artists," says Jill. "We find we work together well because everything complements each other."
Glen is renowned for his work with metal "junk", Judy paints, Laurelle makes interesting things out of natural fibres and driftwood, and Jill's character dolls never fail to amuse and impress.
"I like the idea that no one will be disappointed, because there's such a variety of everything, even within one artist's practice," says Glen. "It's a feast.
"When you get it all together, the mix of colours and textures is crazy."
Delicate pieces by Laurelle Lomath.
Laurelle has crafted objects dangling from the light, gossamer thin materials formed into shapes like little boats, or hats, or ... something beautiful.
"It's as if she has a team of insects and wee birds that make the stuff," says Glen.
On a wall is a row of fence palings on which Laurelle has created small streetscapes with houses and shops made from pieces of driftwood painted in bright colours. In the centre of the room is a collection of small flax bowls. The flax theme continues with some of her work made from harakeke paper, that she has made, of course.
"I usually work in glass, so this is quite different," says Laurelle. "It kind of evolved. We're out at the beach and I used to use driftwood to display baskets on, but then, some looked like boats … I started putting them together."
General consensus among the group is that Laurelle is capable of a wide variety of artistic expression and executes all of it very well.
Colum Bus Tours by Jill Maas.
Jill's hand-made dolls are a delight. Full of expression and character, she has placed them in cleverly crafted settings to exhibit their particular traits. They make you smile. Some are riding in a bus which she fashioned from an old valve radio. On the vehicle is signwritten Colum Bus Tours. Clever.
Judy's paintings are rich in colour, shapes and meaning, and one has been used as background on their advertising flyer. There's one called 5.8 on the Richter Scale and you can see the earthquake in its lines and shapes. Transmission Lockdown is a topical comment with cute little coronavirus representations looking like part of a video game.
5.8 on the Richter Scale by Judy Flatt.
Glen's work is recognisable pieces of junk, tools, utensils and kitchen equipment repurposed into something completely different. An old hand drill with added bits and lights has become a Drilly Fish.
"I try to keep every piece recognisable. It's junk art. You might not recognise what it was if you're not familiar with it, but you know it was something. That's the discipline of it."
There are old clippers, hoes, spades, tools of all kinds, including sockets and assorted hardware.
"There's a sub-genre of junk called Hex," says Glen. "Spanners, sockets, nuts, bolts, Allen keys, everything hex. It's just another way to make my life hard."
Workshop Rat by Glen Macmillan.
Between the four of them, Art to Sea have created an exhibition of interest to all.
