Art show a ‘huge fundraiser’

Excitement is building in Timaru for an annual fundraising exhibition that will feature the works of 35 artists from around New Zealand.

The number of artists featuring at the 43rd RSM Law Plunket Art Show makes the event particularly ‘‘special’’ according to Di Hay, the show committee’s chairwoman.

Hay said the show, at Aigantighe Art Gallery, sees artists participate by providing pieces that can be viewed and purchased, with funds going to the Timaru branch of Plunket.

She said it was a challenge to organise but the number of art works from so many different artists in one place was very appealing to the community.

‘‘It’s unusual to get this range of artists in one place. To have so many makes it special.’’

The show will be curated by the professionals at the gallery, adding another aspect to the long-running fundraiser.

There will be some emerging artists and others including Jacqui Gibbs Chamberlain, from Port Levy, who usually focuses on figurative subjects with oil or acrylic on canvas or mixed media, and Candy Clarke, from Nelson, who usually works in painting on perspex.

Others exhibiting include Lynn

Taylor, Marian Maguire, Alison Hale, Ricks Terstappen, Shiela Brown, Keith Grinter, Vashti Johnson, Mady Emerson, Verity Pattison, Christeena MacDonald and Leonard Lambert.

In 2020 the show was cancelled due to Covid-19, while the 2019 event raising $34,000.

‘‘I’m excited we’re back on track,’’ Hay said. ‘‘This is a huge fundraiser for Plunket which they depend on.’’

Hay said the artists were appreciative of the event as it had been a challenging year for many of them.

Tickets for the opening night on May 14 are $40. The show runs until May 30.