Opening: Iain Cheesman | Saskia Bunce-Rath | Hakatere Ceramics

About the event

Join us for the opening of three new exhibitions: Iain Cheesman’s Nurture Nature, Saskia Bunce-Rath’s eating stars together at dusk, and Hakatere Ceramics’ From the Earth. 

Iain Cheesman’s new exhibition Nurture Nature celebrates the act of slowing down and looking. Within the gallery space, painting, sculpture, embroidery, taxidermy and poetry sit together, creating a landscape for the viewer to navigate. Cheesman introduces birds as the focal point of his landscape, and as a bird watcher himself, hopes that the viewer will take on this role of nature observer within the exhibition.

In Saskia Bunce-Rath’s solo exhibition eating stars together at dusk, thread is deployed, as she says, in ‘a painterly way’ to create images that evoke myth, fantasy, wonder and dream. By infusing the recognisable with the remarkable in brightly-coloured tapestries of various scales, and with poetic titles that only add to the mystery, she creates cosmologies for the strange creatures that inhabit her jewel-like works.

From the Earth is an exhibition by the Hakatere Ceramics Group. Started in 2015, the Hakatere Ceramics and Pottery Group of Ashburton is local group of ceramic enthusiasts who aim to create a welcoming, educational and encouraging environment for those who want to learn more about the art of clay. This year there will also be a display from guest artist Hannah Kidd.

Join us on October 18 at 6pm to celebrate the opening of these three exhibitions. All are welcome at this free event and light refreshments will be served.

Images:
Left: Jane Rant, Untitled work (detail), 2023, under-glazed ceramic. Image courtesy of the artist.

Middle: Iain Cheesman, Bird Watcher Watcher, 2023, watercolour paintings, carved oak and walnut binoculars. Image courtesy of the artist.

Right: Saskia Bunce-Rath. time is just a small dream, it won’t take long, embroidery on calico fabric, 2023. Image courtesy of the artist.