Art shared with festival-goers

Visitors to Lorraine Browne’s Katikati studio can expect to see organic, vibrant and uplifting art.

The studio, named Gallery on Mulgan, also promises design, collage and acrylics, full of life on Lorraine’s canvasses. It’s not unusual, she says to find elements like dance, music and good-natured humour within a piece of her art.

Lorraine is sharing her art with trail goers during the Bay of Plenty Garden & Art Festival, that runs from November 15-18.

She is one of a number of gardeners and artists from the northern reaches of the district displaying talent on the festival trail.

All up, 71 gardens throughout the Western Bay of Plenty and the work of more than 100 artists is set to wow those taking to the festival trails this year.

Festival director Marc Anderson says there will be an “exciting” mix of local and national artists exhibiting on the trail, at the festival hub, and at a selection of other venues.

There will also be a festival gallery at the hub, offering a sneak peak of all the artists’ work — a taste of what’s out on the trail.

“We are well and truly celebrating marvellous creative talent,” Marc says.

See www.gardenandartfestival.co.nz for further information and to buy trail tickets. Tickets are also available at Katikati Arts Junction and other venues within the district.

This year the festival will also involve a mini-festival named Bloom in the Bay, which will be held at the festival hub — Tauranga Historic Village. Bloom in the Bay will offer the opportunity for everyone, including families with young children, to enjoy keynote speakers, entertainment (including plenty of live music), tasty food and beverages, exhibitions, workshops, displays and concept gardens. It will be held from 9am to 9.30pm on the festival days.

Those wishing to attend Bloom in the Bay do not need to have festival tickets. Entry is $5 for adults, and free for children 12 and under. Entry is also free for those with garden and art trail passes. See www.gardenandartfestival.co.nz for more information.

Talented local artist Lorraine Browne at her studio, Gallery on Mulgan.

Many other interesting recycled creations will be in the garden.

Stunning colourful artworks will be on display in Lorraine Browne’s small garden.

Check out artist Garry Weir’s interesting wood creations in his exhibition, Reflections.