Photo: Wendy Leach and Mary-Anne Boyd, with Awards Judge Graham Billings

Mary-Anne Boyd and Wendy Leach were delighted and proud to represent Mangawhai Artists Incorporated at the Westpac Northland Business Excellence Awards functionin Whangarei on Friday evening, and hear that Mangawhai Artists Inc was short-listed for three awards!
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• Ricoh Northland Excellence in Business MICRO BUSINESS AWARD
• Creative Northland EXCELLENCE IN CREATIVE INDUSTRIES AWARD, and
• Top Energy BEST NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANISATION AWARD

 
They were then thrilled to accept two winning awards:

• Ricoh Northland Excellence in Business MICRO BUSINESS AWARD

• Top Energy BEST NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANISATION AWARD

 
The Judge’s panel said ‘Mangawhai Artists are a deserving winner of the Not for Profit category. The unity with which they operate is clearly evident - a large group of people working co-operatively with a very clear focus to instigate and complete ambitious building programmes, run innovative exhibitions and workshops for the local community and support local artists both at home and away. The obvious enjoyment and efficiency of this group made it a pleasure to judge’.
 
The citation for the Micro Business Award noted that the top few in the micro category were all excellent, but the judges were particularly impressed with the scale and complexity of Mangawhai Artists Inc. From running exhibitions that appeal to all ages to negotiating with Council over a new building and an addition to the existing gallery, setting up a complex website to benefit local artists and provide an information base, the work is done smoothly with a great deal of focus and determination, delivering great outcomes. 
 
Mary-Anne is Chair of Mangawhai Artists Inc and said ‘This is a tribute to the Committee's teamwork, commitment and foresight and to all our artists, Friends, supporters and sponsors. We entered for this award to make sure we keep learning and developing as an organisation. It has been a positive experience and this is very affirming for us all’.

The Originals Group.
A group show by eleven artists who meet to make art every Monday morning
Opens Thursday 25 October 6pm
 
Every Monday morning; rain, wind, sun – in all weathers, you will find a group of artists gathering to make art, be creative, share their knowledge, offer friendship and a cup of tea.  Tucked away behind the Medical Centre, the Mangawhai Community Hall provides a welcoming space and on Monday mornings is turned into a studio for artists. 
 
Ann Howard, the organiser says, ‘Our Monday’s are a bright way to start the week.  We can have as many as 25 people painting, drawing, experimenting and teaching each other skills and techniques.  Many of our group were new to Mangawhai and to art when they first came along.  We are always thrilled to welcome newcomers to our Monday mornings and invite people to drop in for a look and to meet us – we love encouraging people to join us and become artists in the making’.
 
The exhibition ‘For the Love of...’ will showcase the art of eleven artists with their distinctive styles, approaches and topics.  The artists enjoy the opportunity to show their work in a group exhibition.  Visitors to the Mangawhai Artists Gallery in Moir Street will see beautiful skilful landscapes and seascapes; vivid abstracts, ‘wow’ factor portraits and much more.
 
Opening night will be a celebration of creativity with the artists (who are all members of Mangawhai Artists Inc), their families and friends – all are welcome. 
 
‘For the Love of...’ opens Thursday 25 October, 6.30pm with drinks and nibbles.  Exhibition ends Wednesday 7 November.  Mangawhai Artists Gallery 10 – 3 daily, Saturday 9am – 3pm
 
The exhibiting artists are: Marion Bilton, Janine Brougham, Ann Connew, Ailsa Dennis, Jean Fountain, Linda Hobbs, Ann Howard, Gordon McGibbon, Lynn Middleton, Tracey Scott and Chris Thomson
 
About the Artists
mangawhaiartists.co.nz/ann-howard
mangawhaiartists.co.nz/janine-brougham
mangawhaiartists.co.nz/ailsa-dennis
mangawhaiartists.co.nz/jean-fountain
mangawhaiartists.co.nz/gordon-mcgibbon
mangawhaiartists.co.nz/lynn-middleton

Mangawhai Printmakers
Opens Friday 12 October at 6pm
 
Mangawhai Artists Gallery is delighted to be hosting the second annual Mangawhai Printmakers Exhibition.  Along with a display of printmaking tools, seven printmakers are showing original handmade prints.  Each artist has a distinctive style and several methods of printmaking will be on show. Curator, Nicola Everett says, ‘we are thrilled that interest in printmaking is growing with more artists becoming part of the Mangawhai Printmakers’ group.  Last year our aim was to show people a range of printmaking techniques, this year we are displaying tools used by printmakers; there is a fascinating variety and we have quite a collection from specialised Japanese tools through to homemade dollies and barens’.
 
Our environment and this beautiful place we live in is reflected in some of the work on show.  Remembering ‘Gold and Oil – The legacy and Threat of the Niagara’ earlier this year, Nicola has bought her care and concern about our environment to the theme of tools and is showing print work that will be challenging for some people. Continuing an environmental theme, the group is delighted to be showing eco printing by Christine den Hartogh – beautiful work with intriguing colours and images from the world around us.  Gayle Forster is a printmaker working in Japanese Ukiyo-e style printing with tools she has made herself, she explains ‘inspiration for my work comes from the environment.  The air, water, and land in or on which people, animals and plants live’.  Toni Smith has a collection of etchings whose images reflect her 30 years living in Kaipara, all with wonderful titles, for example, ‘Chook in the Kitchen’, ‘Cats in the Laundry’ and ‘Gathering Pipis, Journeys End’.
 
The tools on display are a starting point for some of the art work with the artists exploring tools in the widest possible context.  Wendy Clifford and Lynn Middleton are exploring images of tools used every day, in the home, at work and by artists.
 
The seventh of the printmakers is artist Edie Chappell, who is new to printmaking. Exploring this form of creative expression Edie says, ‘I suppose I didn't have any intention with the printing for this exhibition because my prints are all just practicing with shapes and layering techniques, I find I like the simplicity of the works and even when layered up they still hold a simple shape or shapes.’ 
 
Edie Chappell, Wendy Clifford, Nicola Everett, Gayle Forster, Christine den Hartogh, Lynn Middleton and Toni Smithare exhibiting in PRESSED, an exhibition of handmade original prints in Mangawhai Artists Gallery from 6pm Friday 12 October until Wednesday 24 October. ENDS
 
For more information mangawhaiartists.co.nz and artist profiles:
mangawhaiartists.co.nz/edie-chappell
mangawhaiartists.co.nz/wendy_clifford
mangawhaiartists.co.nz/nicola-everett
mangawhaiartists.co.nz/gayle-forster
mangawhaiartists.co.nz/christine-den-hartogh
mangawhaiartists.co.nz/lynn-middleton
mangawhaiartists.co.nz/toni-smith