Tinned CANs on again

Do you remember the Tinned CANs exhibition and competition from last year?

The entries were inspirational, and showed great ingenuity. From tin garlands to robots and beef burgers to roses, imaginations were running wild.

We’re running this event again and are sure this year’s entries will be as sensational. Enter the 2018 CAN Tinned CANs. Open to all, and you have until August 29 to bring in your creations. Be as wild and silly as you dare, and enter your creation made from re-purposed aluminium tins to go on display in the CAN foyer from Saturday, September 1. Entry forms from the CAN foyer or download from the CAN website. There will be voting and prizes to win for the People’s Top Choice in children’s and adults categories. We can’t wait to see what CAN creations come through the CAN doors. And at the end of the month we will be auctioning off the donated items — more in the next Arts Focus.

Another community event is the upcoming Poetry Jam. From this Friday, August 24, to celebrate National Poetry Nicky Somerville and her glorious flower paintings are exhibited at CAN.

Day, join us as the walls of the Small Gallery are transformed word by word. Write (or draw) your poems in any way you choose. Be creative and imaginative, bring the whole family — this will be your moment to shine! Napier Live Poets will open the Poetry Jam with a free Open Mic Session on Friday, August 24 from 5pm to 7pm. Bring your poems and read and listen to live poetry. Refreshments will be served , with parking available in Byron Street and the new public parking area in front of the building.

One week left to savour the Napier Council’s City Treasures exhibition in the Main Gallery, which closes on August 30. The items on display are unwrapped from the archives — gifts from visiting dignitaries and Napier’s sister cities in Japan, China and Canada, which include a stunning embroidered kimono, wood carving and ceramics. View stunning panoramic photographs of Napier before, during and after the 1931 earthquake which are especially fascinating. Many of our visitors have spent some time spotting their houses and marvelling at the dramatic changes that Napier has gone through in such a short time. This is a rare opportunity to see all these treasured objects at close quarters, so make sure you don’t miss it.

Don’t forget our foyer micro-exhibitions which run for the month of August too. This month we are showcasing the extraordinary work of Justin Cheung, a talented high school student with an amazing future ahead of him. Alongside are local Nicky Somerville’s paintings, which are literally stopping visitors in their tracks with their intricate detail.

So, as always, a lot to see and do at the CAN! We look forward to your visit.

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