Join in interactive White Out
The doors have been open for a few days now to White Out, the interactive art installation which is Creative Arts Napier’s contribution to the Harcourt’s Hawke’s Bay Arts Festival, and visitors have been piling through.
We are inviting everyone to enter the CAN’s blacked-out main gallery with a sheet of white sticky spots for $2 and to place them wherever you choose; your additions becoming part of the creative element of the installation.
Large black shapes stand up from the floor to a height of over two metres, and hundreds of glowing spots will float before your eyes, creating a multitude of optical illusions. This is an activity and sensory experience suitable for any age, so bring the whole family!
We are also running a competition. You can win a bundle of children’s books by spotting how many coloured ping pong balls the White Out set up crew have sneakily placed in the installation. Be a sleuth, spot them all, and then place your answer in the jar in reception with your contact details. The winner will be drawn on October 24.
At CAN we are also gearing up for White Night on Saturday, October 20, when Napier’s Arts Quarter will become a vibrant hub of activity from 7pm-10pm. This year we are expecting record numbers through the doors, making the White Out installation more exciting as thousands of new dots are added, confusing the eye and eventually changing the colour of the blacked-out room. Join us for live entertainment, a cash bar and art exhibitions, such as the complimentary Shades of White on the mezzanine level featuring the work of established artists Bernie Winkels, Morag Shaw and John Staniford, together with emerging photographic artist Emma Rodgers. In the Small Gallery you will find Lisa Feyen’s contemporary printmaking exhibition The
Rest is Silence and recent work by Carol Goodier and Da-Yoon Song in the foyer.
All in all, this year’s arts festival is cracked up to be a winner. After all that excitement, it’s hard to believe there is more lined up to keep you entertained later this month. Clay, and ceramic art has received renewed interest and popularity in the last few years. We are proud to announce that Creative Arts Napier has been chosen by the organisers to host the first UKU Clay Hawke’s Bay which is a new biennial National Ceramic Award to be held in the Hawke’s Bay region. It is a selected
exhibition, showcasing the best work from about 50 ceramic artists from around New Zealand.
Uku means clay in te reo, and is the starting point for this event, which is a celebration of makers of contemporary ceramics from the Hawke’s Bay region and nationally, with clay at its heart. The intention is to give the community the chance to see work, buy it, be inspired and see the endless possibilities of clay, but it was also important to provide an opportunity for local practitioners to exhibit in their place, together. More than 50 entries from across the spectrum of creativity have been received, from small functional vessels, to sculptural and figurative work, with half of these entries from Hawke’s Bay.
Auckland ceramic artist and theatre designer John Parker has agreed to be the first UKU selector, exhibition designer and curator for 2018. More information on John’s practice check out http://www.johnparker.co.nz.
You can join the selector and artists for the opening celebration on Saturday, October 27, 5pm-7pm, for what promises to be a diverse and beautiful exhibition.
And last but not least, Creative Arts Napier’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) is fast approaching. Join us on Wednesday, October 31 at 7.30pm at the CAN, 16 Byron St, Napier (behind Te Pania Hotel). Plenty of parking is available in front of the building in the public carpark or in Byron St. All are welcome and refreshments will be served.
CAN is seeking nominations for next year’s board to support our services to the local arts community.
You don’t need to be a practising artist — just have a passion for our community. If this interests you or you would like to learn more, please contact manager@thecan.co.nz
You can download a nomination form on the CAN website: www.thecan.co.nz.