PRESSED

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