Exhibition aims to spread the love
A local art initiative is aiming to send more love into the community and around the world.
Tasman’s Jester House cafe coowner Judy Richards sent out a brief to artists, both local and abroad, asking them to create a piece of art which shows what sending love means to them.
She said the purpose of the initiative was to honour ‘‘those we care about and to take a moment to let them know’’.
‘‘[We have] dedicated the month of February to creating a space for people to connect with those they love but may not have told recently.
‘‘There is nothing nicer than getting an unexpected postcard, in the mail, from your friend, daughter, mother, brother, father, aunty, cousin.’’
The idea for the exhibition came from a recent travel stint, where Richards came up with the initiative over a glass of wine while staying with her brother in England.
Her brother, Bill van den Yssel, was enthusiastic about it and wanted to create an artwork for it too.
‘‘[During travelling] I’ve been sending postcards to people and got such amazing responses because they said they didn’t get much nice mail in their letter box anymore,’’ Richards said.
She said they hoped the initiative would also help to put more love and positivity in the world.
The original pieces from the 13 artists who accepted the brief are being exhibited at Jester House this month and they have also been scanned in and made into postcards, which are also for sale.
‘‘They are incredibly different, I was really surprised at what came back, I’m absolutely thrilled with the range of interpretations, it’s stunning.
‘‘It just portrays how differently we all see love and how it can be expressed.’’
There are 11 artists from the Nelson region participating: Jane Smith, Lynn Price, Barbara Franklet, Sally Burton, David Stones, Robin Slow, Kathy Reilly, Emma Moncrieff, Wendy Lineham, Ogura Yoshiko and Jessica Lindblom-Brice.
Two artists from Watchet in England are also taking part, Bill van den Yssel and Georgina Towler.
Richards said all the proceeds from the works sold during February were going back to the artists.
People visiting the cafe will be encouraged to send a message of love to someone in their lives, with stamps and a special postbox available.