King Street Artworks on show at Aratoi

21 December 2011
The artwork of four art tutors and four artists, all from King Street Artworks, is on show at the Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History in Masterton over the summer.

King Street Artworks is a creative space in Masterton. Its Co-ordinator, Ian Chapman, says Masterton is fortunate to have an exhibition space of international standard, which also encourages the community to get involved at all levels.

“We’re thrilled to have such a large representation of artists and tutors at Aratoi,” he says. “It reflects the fact that King St artists are being recognised as significant artists in their own right.”

Artist Harry Watson has been involved with King Street Artworks since its inception 14 years ago. He shares his painting, sewing and carving skills as one of its tutors.

“King Street Artworks is not a studio. It’s not a school. It’s a welcoming space that’s available for people of all abilities and all backgrounds,” he explains.

On show at Aratoi is that was then. this is now, a retrospective of Harry’s paintings and carvings. Harry’s work explores stories from New Zealand’s past and invites viewers to re-examine the background of today’s society.

The awards ceremony for The Wairarapa Review VII was held at Aratoi on 16 December. This annual event, organised by Friends of Aratoi, showcases work by Wairarapa artists. Ceramist and King Street Artworks tutor Janet Green took out the premier award this year with her stoneware piece, Conversation.

Other King Street Artworks works shown in this year’s competition include those by tutor Linda Tilyard and artists Audrey Hall, Ron Monaghan, Stephen Duncan and Hamish Kummer.

Taren Wood, another tutor at King Street Artworks, opened her latest exhibition, Okey Dokey, at Aratoi on the same night as the awards ceremony. Her highly detailed paintings have been recognised on a national scale: she won the top prize at the New Zealand Women’s Art Exhibition in 2008. Okey Dokey features new acrylic works.