Mangawhai stingrays revealed

A fever of unique stingrays have arrived in Mangawhai Village bringing a splash of colour and waves of curious visitors to the outer walls of the popular local art gallery.

Mangawhai Artists Inc (MAI) community-focused artwork ‘Project Stingray’ was revealed to a crowd of contributing painters, members of MAI and Kaipara mayor Greg Gent on May 20.

The individually painted mini stingrays, mounted on two larger rays, were unveiled by the youngest participating artist, 1-year-old Mac Clews with a little help by MAI patron Malcolm Roberts.

MAI president Mary-Ann Boyd began the ceremony saying that creative, social and art activities play an important part in the well-being of a community.

“In a rapidly growing community, the activities of the Mangawhai Artists are one of the ways in which people can meet others and build common creative experiences while learning new skills with experienced teachers,” she says. “We’ve loved the awesome engagement from so many people of all ages.”

Project Stingray leader, Rosina Kamphuis, had the difficult task of deciding which of the 101 stingray cutouts to use for the design, as only 58 would fit into the larger ray outlines.

“I would have liked to put up all of the plywood stingrays as I know there will be a story behind each painting,” she says. “I selected a range that represent all ages so that all of the community are represented. I looked at colours and the different ways of working that would go well together or would create a contrast to make the installation exciting. I also mixed artworks that portray our environment, with artworks that have connections in the minds of the makers and those that are a wonderful, vibrant expression of colours and patterns on a stingray.”

The project’s theme was all about connection, a chance for anyone in the community to express how they feel about Mangawhai, what makes the area essentially special to them personally.

“It was a time for the community to play – to discover talents, to focus, a time to do something special for ourselves and with families and friends, a time to create,” Kamphuis says. “The results were amazing! Every single piece of art made is a treasure.”

Mayor Gent says it was great to see what a community can do together.

“Humbles me in this job,” he says. “Community is everything and Kaipara is wonderful like that.”

- By JULIA WADE

CREATIVE: Project Stingray leader, Rosina Kamphuis, with the youngest contributing painter, Mac Clews, parents Libby and Mike, KDC mayor Greg Gent, and MAI president Mary-Ann Boyd.