Gabriella Lewenz, Sally Smith and Oliver Stretton-Pow

Three highly regarded Waiheke artists open at the Waiheke Community Art Gallery on Friday 15th january at 6pm, all welcome!
They are Gabrielle Lewenz, Sally Smith and Oliver Stretton-Pow.
Gabrielle Lewenz creates dramatic textural works in oil that are inspired by the spiritual nature of the seas and land of coastal Waiheke along with its ancestral histories. Gestural swathes of paint are balanced with pacific colours to create abstract works that entrance the viewer and reflect the artist’s memories of a childhood upbringing in Greece.
In recent weeks two major international TV programmes have visited Gabrielle’s studio. One a film crew from Tokyo recorded footage of her working in her studio for a nationwide travel programme and the other a CBS documentary crew filmed the paintings in this new exhibition for the “Sunday Morning” programme, one of the most watched television programmes in America.
Exploring the layers of Waiheke’s history and caring for its significant ecological and historical sites are the recurring theme of these new works by Sally Smith. The exhibition works include paintings in Indian ink onto canvas and two installations, one in wood and one in bronze.
‘Kaitiakitanga’ is a series of Koikoi (traditional Maori weapons), each bearing the name of a site of significance on Waiheke worthy of protection. Overall this piece is a wero (challenge) to all who choose to make Waiheke their home, to care for these places. Mawhitipana (Palm Beach) depicts Nani Island, a site of international ecological significance and the home of more than 1% of the remaining White Fronted Tern. Another titled ‘Matiatia’ depicts the Urupa (Maori Graveyard), local stingrays and blue penguins that live under the wharf.
The landing of the artist’s Great, Great, Great, Grandfather in 1849 at the bay of Te Huruhi (Blackpool) and his visiting the local Chief Hoete and his village that once stood where Piritahi Marae stands today is commemorated in the piece ‘Waiheke’. Painted onto an oar this piece pays homage to that row ashore many years ago.
‘Yeah Na Ay’ celebrates the unique slang affirmation used only by Kiwi’s in agreeing with something.

Oliver Stretton-Pow is exhibiting a new suite of work in bonze. His major installation titled Tournment bisects the gallery. A series of 12 pieces which reference the artist’s memory of his father who passed away last year. The axe head shapes are based on a traditional Canadian competition axe which Oliver carried with him during 12 years of travelling the world, each piece containing symbols that reference family. Each of these works is the first in an edition of 8. Suspended from the centre of the centre is another major work titled Great Bow, while across the gallery is Small bow, a reference to Father and son, of Oliver to his Father and then to his son.

Event listed by WCAG

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