Events Calendar

'By Nature’ - A joint exhibition featuring works by artists Fiona Kerr Gedson & Annemieke Farmilo. 

Annemieke creates works using predominantly greenstone and glass which depict the vast New Zealand landscape, especially the South Island.

The inspiration to turn framing into dynamic artworks has come from a love of hunting and collecting. Nature's powerful simplicity is personified in her artworks, natural New Zealand is married with the manmade, producing an unexpected sensory pleasure.

"Powerful open spaces, mountains and the oneness with nature is my inspiration and draws me in as if it were a migrating instinct urging my return. My focus is to have an object and show it off to its absolute fullest potential. I'm always amazed at how beautiful something becomes when singled out and given space".

Annemieke Farmilo was born in Holland in 1949 and came to live in New Zealand with her family when she was seven years old. Her whole life has been a creative journey and her artistic endeavours have included pottery, oil and watercolour painting, photography and even shoemaking.

Annemieke works from her home-based studio at farm side in Otorohonga creating artwork that reflects the world around her. She has exhibited throughout New Zealand and was included in an exhibition in Dubai in 2006. In 2008 Annemieke was the guest artist at the Riversdale Art Show in Southland.

Fiona Kerr Gedson is a multi-award-winning and internationally recognised artist based in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, within the boundaries of the Whakatōhea Iwi.

Having grown up within the presence of the Tūhoe people in Tāneatua and Rūātoki (also in the Bay of Plenty area), Fiona recognises that these relationships have had a huge influence on her art and life.

 She first learnt traditional Maori weaving techniques from kuia (female elders) in Gisborne. Her work combines feathers, harakeke (flax) and wire, creating striking, modern pieces using techniques which run deep in New Zealand’s history. Her pieces have won numerous awards including prizes in the Opotiki Fibre and Fleece Maori Art Awards in 1996, 2000 and 2002. Other prestigious achievements include recognition from the Centre of Contemporary Arts and being a selected finalist of the Otago Arts Gold Awards in 2015.

Fiona is well represented around the country and her works have sold to collectors worldwide including to Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Canada, Scotland, China, Britain and U.S.A. Her pieces have also been included in international exhibitions such as the Tashikawa Art International Festival in Tokyo, Japan and Fils et Metiers in France.

Fiona’s more recent works draw inspiration from the Mandala (Sanskrit for circle), a form which has origins in ancient Buddhism. It is intended to be a ‘collection point of universal forces’ through which the viewer can gain wisdom and happiness.

“My work allows me to reflect and honour the things that are important to me,” says Fiona.

“I aim to create soulful and elegant pieces, which are meditative and encompassing of many cultures as well as being an expression of my life, my family and spirituality.”

Location

Art Bay Gallery Exclusive Exhibitions, Eichardt’s Building, Level 1, Marine Parade, Queenstown