Local artwork and pottery showcased in Connect Four exhibition
An eclectic exhibition featuring paintings and pottery is coming to Coromandel Town.
Suitably called Connect Four, the exhibition showcases works by Wellington painter and printmaker Gary Tricker, local painters Elisabeth Carter and Julie Dann, and potter Murray Rainey.
When it came to railways, Tricker’s friend Barry Brickell described his work as “New Zealand’s best”.
Tricker, who died in 2021, rose to fame in the 1970s. He was well-known in New Zealand and overseas for his witty and whimsical style. His pieces often featured trains, black cats and quotes from literature about New Zealand nature.
Almost 500 of Tricker’s artworks have been left to the Waikato Museum after his death. Some of his work is also held at Te Papa in Wellington and the Govett-brewster in New Plymouth.
His niece, Carol Sutherland, who lives in the Coromandel, maintains her late-uncle’s remaining works with profits going to charities he supported.
Tricker twice won the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council Award, and attended shows all over the world. He was an avid cat lover, owning several black moggies who he referred to as his muses. When he was travelling, he always arranged cat sitters to take care of his muses at home.
Tricker got to know Barry Brickell through their shared passion for trains. Brickell, one of our country’s most revered potters, is also famed on the Coromandel Peninsula for establishing Driving Creek Railway, a leading tourist attraction.
Meanwhile, Elisabeth Carter, who is also Coromandel Town’s florist, paints in a variety of mediums. The vibrancy of her work brings landscapes, flowers and portraits to life. “Creating has always been essential to me. My work is highly emotive, often with many layers and texture.”
Julie Dann loves being free to paint after years in a busy career. She has a passion for capturing local seascapes and delves into the world of abstract. “The buzz I get from painting when it works is worth all the missteps. I’ve found my own unique style and keep developing.”
Murray Rainey is one of Coromandel’s talented potters, who believes art is about expressive intent. “When at my wheel, I feel part of me is imbedded into the piece. Whether it’s a single piece or a repeat form, it still carries on. A lot of my art is functional, so typically has a use.”
The exhibition runs from February 15-25 at Hauraki House Gallery in Kapanga Rd, Coromandel Town. It’s open from 10 am-4pm daily and entry is free.