Woodville Art and History Gallery hosts spectacular exhibitions
Very special artistic treasures have been on display and for sale to the public in Woodville’s Art and History Gallery in the Christmas-New Year break.
After a huge amount of effort from the Woodville Art and History volunteers the Woodville Gallery in the old i-Site building and attached to the Lindauer Replica studio has been displaying astounding artwork every day except for Christmas Day and New Year from 10am-4pm. And it is completely free!
In 2019 the Tararua District Council granted the Woodville Art and History Society Inc access for two years to the old library and i-Site to convert it into art galleries. Since then the society has raised $74,000 in grants which has allowed it to extensively renovate the buildings using mostly volunteer labour and to shape them into amazing spaces to display art and items of historical interest.
Since Saturday, October 30 when the first major exhibition was formally opened with the work of recently deceased local artist Suze Phillips on display for sale in the major gallery for a a month, a regular succession of artists have displayed their work for sale.
The policy of the society is to have three galleries open — one for the work of Tararua artists, one to display items of historical interest and the third to maintain the Lindauer Replica Gallery.
The artist gallery has four possible display areas the main one for rent for a month and three smaller spaces for fortnightly exhibitions. Kevin says the rent for the spaces is low but sufficient to cover costs while commission on sales will help fund further development. It has been incredible! Each fortnight up to six artists have had exhibitions with the main gallery for the feature artist, before Christmas the Pretty family were featured, with Robin and her art from recycled materials and David with his intricately created segmented platter boards, footstools and chess kits.
In that time other top artists also displayed a huge variety of artwork both in subject and in art medium.
These included Sue McLeod’s felted wool , Cherie Davis’ horses in oils, Mandy Sutherland’s fabric animals and witches, Nancy Honore’s mixed media portraits and flowers, Tania Emslie’s and Tania Morrison’s paintings and