|
Keep your finger on the pulse of what's cool, funky and new in the creative world with the latest Arts Insider. From a hot new blogging addiction, must see flicks and divine art, see what Sarah's found for your viewing pleasure this month...
 A Quick Q&A with fellow nzgirl and contemporary artist Laura Hewetson of Feather Falls...
What inspires and influences you in your art and craft? I find I am drawn to things that I love in everyday life, like movies, retro items, colours, textures, pictures/photos from old books and especially music. My art label is 'Feather Falls' which is inspired by the book 'The Dream Giver' by Bruce Wilkinson in which the 'hopes & dreams' for your life are represented by white feathers that fall from the heavens.
What do you enjoy most about your art and craft?
I am such a fidget and need to be using my hands - so I really like that part of creating things. I am a very fast and chaotic worker, and like to make a bunch of things at once; there are always more that one thing being made in my studio. I am all about mix media - I use many different things, from oil, acrylics, sheelac, varnish, resin, glues etc. With my bags I like to hunt out old retro and vintage fabrics in opshops, I am a BIG op-shopper so a lot of my work uses second hand materials. I find inspiration in other peoples junk...it's my treasure!!!
What inspired you to start making handbags/t-shirts?
I have had many art exhibitions, but this year I have booked my first market stall for the Petone Fair in Feb, so I started to think about other things I could do and offer people, than just paintings. I have always enjoyed sewing, as my mum is a dressmaker, so it runs in the blood. I thought bags would be a great place to start. I have a bag I got in an op-shop a while ago that people really love, so I thought why not use it for inspiration to make my own bags!
Do you have any current exhibitions or shows?
I have work at The Beach House Gallery (which is on Lyall Bay Beach in Welly) and some religious icon pieces at Oyster (Jackson St, Petone). My first market stall is at the Petone Rotary Fair, Saturday, February 21, Jackson St, Petone - where I will have art, bags, magnets, t-shirts and more for sale.
Dreams for the future?
I just fricken love making stuff - I would go completely nuts if I couldn’t be creative. A lot of the time I don’t have the space, time or money to fund all the ideas in my head! Ideally I would love to have a proper studio by 2010, as my current studio is the spare bedroom in our house. I have to be very careful not to spill anything on the new carpet, so I would love a space where I can really go crazy and not stink up the house with fumes! My hubby Peter is very encouraging and understanding, putting up with my mess and need to create! He is so cool!
If you would like to check out more of Laura’s work or enquire regarding sales and commission, click on the links below: 
| Film: DOCNZ 2009 Documentary Film Festival
Auckland February 26 – March 8, Wellington March 12 – 22 and Christchurch/Dunedin March 26 – April 5.
More than 45 fresh, feature-length films about real life will appear in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin during the festival season. From a clutch of domestically-produced documentaries, to international heavyweights and competition sections specialising in comedy, world music and all things German, there will be enough on screen to satisfy even the most eccentric. Check out the full programme at www.docnz.org.nz. | | | | | | | |  | Art: Imprint
February 25 – March 8 2009
Preview: Tuesday, February 24, 6-8pm
Seed Gallery, 23A Crowhurst St, Newmarket, Auckland
A group exhibition featuring: Janna van Hasselt, Annie Sandano, Rebecca Thomson, Tracey Black, Aroha Lewin , John Pusateri and Sophie Corban. Imprint brings together new limited edition and one-off prints by seven artists working within the disciplines of woodcut, screenprint, etching, drypoint, collagraph and lithography. For more information visit www.seedgallery.co.nz | | | | | | | |  | Music: Wellington Jazz Festival
Thursday, March 5, 8.00pm – 11.45pm
Friday, March 6, 5.00pm – 11.45pm
Saturday, March 7, 1.00pm – 11.45pm
Sunday, March 8, 10.30am – 11.45pm
Michael Fowler Centre, 111 Wakefield St, Wellington CBD
More than 75 international artists from 11 countries along with over 100 New Zealand musicians will present a total of 24 shows and workshops in a jazz hub centered on Civic Square. A specially built jazz club Pacific Blue Note in the Wellington Town Hall will showcase jazz around the clock, and a free series of jazz shows is planned for an outdoor stage in Civic Square. For more information visit www.jazzfestival.co.nz | | | | | | | |  | My Pick: Anemone
www.anemonecrafts.blogspot.com/
In amongst the screeds of blogs I find myself reading every day, I often fall upon Anemone and breathe a breath of fresh air. This gorgeous blog is written by Lies and Kimberlee- two Auckland friends that love to crochet, knit, sew, craft and bake. I love that the blog is full of juicy creativity and often showcases Kimberlee’s illustration. Kimberlee likes to work both by hand and digitally to create these very unique and stunning collaged illustrations. Her beautiful online portfolio showcases her children's illustration to her fashion and interactive work. Check it out for some inspiration. | | | | | | | | | By Sarah Gauntlett | |  |
(594).jpg)
|
