Emerging artist on display

 

Northland Anniversay weekend in January will see the third annual One Tree Point Combined Arts Exhibition at Hoppers Marquee, One Tree Point, beside Marsden Marina with the view of Mt Manaia and Whangarei Heads in the background.

From small beginnings in 2017 when just a dozen local artists displayed their wares, this event will feature up to 50 local and invited artists of several genres in an exhibition that has quickly become a crowd favourite.

The two-day event features pottery, painting, ceramics, felting and wood carving. Artists pay no commission on sales, only a small booth fee. A special drawcard will be the demonstration by young Whangarei artist Josh Kiwikiwi.

A keen selftaught artist from a young age Josh is also conversant with associated genres of photography, special effects and make-up though his first love is acrylics and portraiture. However he does deviate to some abstract, impressionist and realism having an eye for Maori, African and Aborigine culture.

Becoming a full time artist is his goal but he realises though he has commissions to complete for customers throughout the country in the near future, a move to the city would be necessary to fulfil that goal.

“Unfortunately an artist needs to be where the population is,” he says. Earlier this year Josh was invited to exhibit at the prestigious 104 Gallery inside the New York Art Centre and the eclectic Brick Lane Gallery in London, the curators of both contacting him from his Instagram pages.

“Shipping art work around the world is a costly business apart from airfares and insurance,” says Josh “and with working part time I just couldn’t manage it this year but I have high hopes of taking up the offer from one or both in 2020.”

One Tree Point Combined Arts Exhibition at Marsden Cove Marquee, One Tree Point, Sat and Sun January 25-26, 10am4pm daily. Gold coin entry.