Polo art tent has a horse, of course
Creative Kiwi women have teamed up to add a splash of colour — including a lifesize horse statue and a giant cake — to this year’s New Zealand Polo Open.
Baker Karla Goodwin, Yon Kavvas of Clay Bird Ceramics and abstract acrylic artist Jen Sievers have produced a colourful fusion of art and food for the event’s new Veuve Clicquot Colourama Marquee.
The trio have been tasked with bringing Madame Clicquot’s creative spirit and passion for colour to life, to celebrate 200 years since one of history’s great female entrepreneurs created the world’s first blended rose´ Champagne.
Contemporary artist Sievers — who mostly paints on Perspex and paper — has transformed a life-size horse statue into a multicoloured work of art.
“Which I’ve obviously never done before and was probably a once-in-alifetime sort of thing, so I thought why not,” she said.
“I spent a day with a giant, white lifesized horse and put paint all over it, which was really amazing.”
Sievers has also painted a bespoke artwork on Perspex with a splash-like pattern — in colours including ros´e pink and the famous Veuve Clicquot yellow — mimicking the movement of Champagne.
“I love any situation where I get to be involved with other women who are doing beautiful things,” said Sievers.
“I think people are opening up a lot more to women artists and women artisans.
“It’s becoming such a normal thing these days. I think art particularly is an area that has been quite male-dominated for so many years and I think that women are on the rise, definitely.”
Other creations set to feature in the marquee include Kavvas’ colourful ceramics and a four-tier, metre-tall cake created by Goodwin.
Goodwin, the owner of Bluebells Cakery, learned her trade at Primrose Bakery in London — where clients included Kate Moss and U2.
“The flavours that we’re creating are really summery and fresh. We’ve kept it in line with the rose´ flavours . . . like strawberries and passionfruit — really fresh flavours,” Goodwin said.
The New Zealand Polo Open is set to take place at the Auckland Polo Club in Clevedon on February 18.
The exclusive Colourama Marquee is by invitation only.