Swing into summer with new art
Bryce Gallery can always be counted on to highlight up-and-coming talent and innovative new art, with the gallery’s artist staff this month putting on the treat of two simultaneous exhibitions.
The ‘‘Summer Collection Exhibition’’ is as pleasantly straightforward as it sounds: a collection of works that capture the essence of warm days, glistening water, sunshine and bright colour.
Among the regular artists of the Riccarton gallery contributing to the exhibition are the award-winning Patterson Parkin and Adele Souster.
Together their works cover a wide scope of emotion tied to the season, from peacefulness in verdant landscapes to the optimism that radiates like energy from the earth after a long, hot day.
The ‘‘Summer’’ exhibition is being held at Bryce Gallery until December 24. Alongside it is a second exhibition showing the recent works of Christchurch artist Caroline Kelly.
Caroline is a full-time artist currently breaking through with a series of beautifully rendered drawings.
Each of her works is meticulously presented in soft pencil, showing a depth of colour and intricacy inspired by photorealism and cottage charm.
Caroline records on the back of each drawing the time spent working on the piece; figures ranging from seven to 355 hours indicate just how involved each work is.
In recent years, Bryce Gallery owner Min Kim has made it part of the gallery’s mission to uncover and support emerging talent, and Caroline certainly fits the bill.
Raised in rural surrounds, she became a self-taught photographer and artist attuned to the details around her. This is reflected in the fineness she gives the feathers of a bird, or the texture of bricks, as she presents scenes of Christchurch, its people, butterflies and animals.
The current exhibition is Caroline’s first, although is sure not to be her last.
Min, meanwhile, scarcely needs an introduction, with her own art being widely presented in Bryce Gallery and celebrated across the country.
Last month, Min flew to Wellington to collect her latest accolade, the Splash 2018 New Zealand Supreme Award. Her painting in the national watercolour exhibition beat more than 300 entries with its expert use of colour and light.
Min’s works feature among a large selection of high-end contemporary art at Bryce Gallery, where more than 100 works in storage allow for a constantly changing display.
The gallery is a focal point for the local art community and regularly holds workshops for budding and experienced artists.
Visit Bryce Gallery on the corner of Riccarton Rd and Paeroa St, Riccarton. The gallery is open from 10am Monday to Saturday and from 11am Sundays. Phone 03 348 0064 or find them online at brycegallery.co.nz.