Women on Fire and some Magic

Pauline Mann, Judy Wood, Samantha Minnery, Emma Caiman
Opens Thursday 24 May 6pm to 6 June 10 – 3 daily
 
On Fire! Energy, creativity, dynamism and drama – fire is the theme of a collaborative exhibition by four artists. ‘Women on Fire’ is a thrilling finale to the Mangawhai Artists Gallery 2017-18 exhibition season.  The works are in glass, clay and a multi media presentation combining charcoal work with original song writing singing and recording.
 
Established ceramic artist, Judy Wood was the impetus for this show.  She is joined by Mangawhai artists in glass, Pauline Mann and Samantha Minnery and Tomarata’s Emma Caiman who is presenting in charcoal and music.  The art works are deeply personal reflections on the qualities of their materials - mediated by fire - and the metaphysical and literal journey it takes us on.
 
About the Artists
Pauline loves translucent colour and materials, teaching herself to paint with glass, allowing her to express the colour world as she sees it. She uses kiln formed glass in the slumped and fused methods.
 
Pauline and Emma have had many creative endeavours. Emma was intending to illustrate her children’s stories with her beautiful line drawing, then, once Pauline introduced her to a transformative charcoal technique, she began a whole new creative adventure, combining it with her recording, song writing and singing skills.
 
Judy has been making pots since 1969 and met Emma and Pauline in the late 80’s.They have worked, played and travelled together ever since and watched Judy build on her original production pottery skills—teaching, painting, healing and now a clay sculptor - free to explore, break the rules and create.  Judy and Pauline will show some of their collaborative work in this exhibition.
 
Samantha is the most recent addition to the group.  She was drawn to Mangawhai nearly three years ago and has found her place in the Rakaunui Art Village.  Samantha uses flame working techniques to create her delightful glass assemblages which vividly express her soul connection to this medium.
 
The exhibition collateral (poster, cards and biography notes) were put together by another Mangawhai newcomer, Susan Dugdale, who met Pauline in the early 2000s in the Wellington Steiner School where they worked together, Susan in theatre production and Pauline on set and costume design.
 
This journey of fire and spirit ignites them on their journey into the unknown, and propels them into a letting go that allows the creative processes to unfold.  

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