Easter Art Exhibition set to be a cracker

(article in the rivercity press)

New Year and Waitangi Day celebrations have passed. We are cracking on to Easter!

Preparation is well under way for the Easter Art Exhibition 2010. Led by David Bebarfald, a team of volunteers have caught the vision, pinned down a theme, found a venue, begun getting sponsors, mailed out information, printed off posters and planned more bold advertising.

Most importantly they have hunted down an amazing variety of talent. At least 22 Whanganui region artists will express the story of Easter. We can anticipate strong, sensitive imagery and great personal passion. The creative media and methods will be wide ranging; clay, glass, woodcut, painting, sculpture, graphics, photography, fabric, flax, and installation. Sound and poetry will add to the mix.

One of the contributing artists, Carol Teutscher, described how her artwork is evolving.

“It will link the Christian festivals of Christmas and Easter, the wrapped and unwrapped gift with a rural New Zealand flavour,” she said. Pohutukawa blossom and lamb both feature in the work.

Filling the Community Arts Centre, the exhibition will open on the second weekend of the regional Open Studios event. It will continue through the following week to include all of the Easter weekend, March 27-April 5.

Eggspectation: The Journey of Easter

(article in the Challenge Weekly)

Under the light-hearted banner of “Eggspectation”, an art exhibition with a twist opened in Wanganui last Friday night. Invitations were issued to artists to help illustrate the Easter story in their own medium. “We wanted to present this in a public space where people who may not attend a church would view it, or people in the art community may come across the Easter message who may not actively seek it”, commented David Bebarfald, onvenor of the event. “We decided to promote the event through the community’s 10^th annual Open Studios and were listed alongside some 50 other locations.” Wanganui is well known as an art centre.

The egg theme carried through the advertising. Eighteen large pink and yellow eggs, attached to fences and buildings, moved around town without words for 2 weeks. Slowly the words were added and they eventually all came to the venue. “We felt it reflected the more relaxed kiwi approach to life and would be inviting to all. A piece by Carol Teutscher incorporates the pohutukawa blossom and the rural farming life.” Carol explained her piece (The Gift of Christmas is Given): “My concern has been to link, and so acknowledge the real meaning of, the two important Christian festivals that are observed in various ways across New Zealand society. As a farmer, I have drawn on NZ rural imagery, in particular the use of the old broken boundary gate and the lamb at its foot.”

The artwork is of “eggseptional” standard and covers a dizzying range of mediums. Paintings, photographs, sculpture, mosaics, glass and weavings represent the 20 artists. The Easter story verses were selected and then the artists set about illustrating it – sometimes in a very literal sense and other times in quite unexpected imagery. Integral to the presentation is the artists statements that stand alongside their works. “The artists have shared some personal stories that are very moving.”

The model came from an annual exhibition by an Auckland church at Rawene Centre, Birkenhead. “It’s a place where people can go for some quiet reflection during the Easter season. We encourage people to invite a friend or neighbour along with them.”

The exhibition runs daily from 10 am – 4 pm at the Community Arts Centre, 19 Taupo Quay, Wanganui. Every day at noon there will be a half hour of readings and music shared in the Riverview room. The exhibition is supported by the Mars Hill Trust (the name being taken from a place in Greece where St Paul preached), grants and generous sponsorship by people keen to promote the opportunity.

High eggspectations for wider audience in Easter art exhibition

(article in Wanganui Chronicle - 24th. March)

An exhibition opening on Friday at the Community Arts Centre Gallery in Wanganui aims to bring artists and church people closer to the public.

Called Eggspectation: The Journey of Easter, it’s a look at both the serious and the light side of the Christian story of death and resurrection. It runs until April 5.

The 25 artists represented work in a range of media, organiser David Bebarfald said. They include Sue Cooke, Rita Wearn, Mere Keating and Michael Haggie.

And the 20 large eggs that have been appearing in public places around Wanganui have been leading up to the opening — creating an eggspectation.

‘‘They’re a little bit of fun, because Easter isn’t all serious. It’s a celebration too,’’ Mr Bebarfald said.

The serious side of the show was about building bridges between groups. The church community and art community each had their own language and ways, and they were different from the ways of the general community.

Donkey to lead way to Easter Art Exhibition

(Article RiverCity Press Thursday March 25 2010)

Dewi (Welsh for David), the donkey, gets ready for his walk to the Community
Arts Centre on Sunday with Jonathan and Meg Hartfield from Springvale. There
will be a brief celebratory public event near the riverfront at 2pm Sunday for
Palm Sunday. Note the Jerusalem cross marking on Dewi’s back

Don't be surprised to see a donkey being led down the Avenue this Sunday! In a scene reminiscent of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, the donkey will play a key role in a brief outdoor service this Sunday at 2pm. The Palm Sunday service will be held on the green space adjacent to the Community Art Centre on Taupo Quay. After the simple service, the donkey will lead the way to the Easter Art Exhibition in the Centre. “Eggspectation: he
Journey of Easter” is an exhibition featuring local artists telling the story of Easter through their art

There may be an opportunity for people to see up close, the dark brown cross that's uch a feature on the back of every Jerusalem donkey

Meg and Jonathon Hartfield are also participating in the Exhibition. Each day from 12-12:30pm, Meg will read some of her poetry in the upper room of the Art Centre, with onathon arranging a selection of reflective music for people to enjoy. A special booklet of her poems has been produced to add yet another dimension to the diversity of artistic expression on view at the exhibition.

The exhibition opens Saturday and runs every day from 10am to 4pm through to Easter Monday, 5 April, closing at 1pm on the final day. It is a compilation of medias used, including paintings, photography, fabric, glass, weavings and others.

Wanganui’s ‘Eggciting’ Event

(Article Weekly Challenge March 29 2010)

GOOD MARKETING: One of the large advertising eggs used to promote the event.

“Eggspectation” — an art exhibition with a twist was launched in Wanganui on March 19.

The exhibition, which has an egg theme, was initiated after invitations were sent by organisers of the event to local artists to help illustrate the Easter story in their own medium.

The model for the exhibition came from the Easter art exhibition held at the Rawene
Centre in Auckland.“We wanted to present this in a public space where people who may not attend a church would view it, or people in the art community may come across the Easter message who may not actively seek it,” said David Bebarfald, convenor of the event.

Paintings, photographs,sculptures, mosaics, glass and weavings represent the 20 artists involved. Easter story verses in the Bible were selected and each artist set about illustrating the passages — sometimes in a very literal sense, other times in quite unexpected imagery.

Mr Bebarfald said integral to the presentation was the artists’ statements that stand
alongside their work. “The artists have shared some personal stories that are very moving.”

Professional photographer Dori McCormick, who helped organise the exhibition, said this was the second time such an Easter art exhibition has been held in Wanganui. The last was in 2008. “I am quite excited to see it come together. The last time people came away feeling very enriched and humbled, after having seen what people had offered.
“The artwork is of ‘eggseptional’ standard and covers a dizzying range of mediums,” laughed Ms McCormick.

The egg theme was central to advertising of the event. Eighteen large pink and yellow eggs, attached to fences and buildings, moved around town without words for two weeks.
Slowly the words were added and eventually all the eggs were returned to the venue.

Organisers felt this “reflected the more relaxed Kiwi approach to life and would
be inviting to all,” said Ms McCormick. The exhibition runs daily from 10 am to 4 pm at the Community Arts Centre, 19 Taupo Quay.

Every day at noon there is a half-hour of readings and music in the Riverview room. The exhibition is supported by the Mars Hill Trust, and grants and sponsorship by people keen to promote the opportunity to publicise the real message of Easter.

“It’s a place where people can go for some quiet reflection during Easter. “We encourage people to invite a friend or neighbour along with them,” adds Ms Ms McCormick.

MODERN: A painting of The Last Supper by Denita Tizard is one of the artworks on
display at Eggspectation. — Photos by Dori McCormick.

“Eggciting” Plans for Next Year

(article - River City Press 29/4/2010)

Two men viewing “The Great Divide” by Janet Kortlever at the Easter Art Exhibition Dori McCormick Photography

Thirteen hundred people streamed through the Community Arts Centre at Easter time to view “The Journey of Easter Eggshibition” this month. With the exhibition itself nearly a year’s worth of effort, it left the organisers with the question of what to do next year.

“We feel that the art exhibition sits comfortably in a biennial position, with the next one scheduled for 2012. Next year we’d like to present something along the lines of “street art”. This could include public performances in Majestic Square and offer an opportunity for school children to be involved,” commented David Bebarfald.

“The response and interest from the public has been noted and suggestions and nvolvement are welcomed.”

The Journey of Easter brought people face to face with the Easter story through different medium of art. “We were thrilled with the creativity of so many people that combined to tell a story of a journey that is still not finished.”

Glass, sculpture, paintings, photography, mosaic and 3D presentations were included. Indications of interest for future participation can be expressed on the website
www.journeyofeaster.org.nz.