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Mangawhai Library’s fiction room has become a vibrant hub for art lovers, thanks to a partnership with the Mangawhai Art Gallery.
Since February, the space has hosted monthly exhibitions featuring the creative works of local artists, offering visitors a chance to view and purchase unique pieces.
This month’s exhibition features a compelling selection of acrylic, charcoal and mixed media works by Chris Cowley-Thomson and Shirley Emerson.
A self-described hobby artist who enjoys experimenting with new techniques, Cowley-Thomson’s current series features a single face rendered in various styles, using brushwork, palette knife and collage.
“I love to try and enjoy the challenge of a new painting. It’s like an experiment that allows you to learn something new,” she says. “Mangawhai is the perfect place to grow creatively, thanks to its active art community full of wonderful, inspiring artists.”
Emerson, who is relatively new to her creative journey, shares the sentiment, drawing inspiration and encouragement from many talented local tutors.
Her latest works reflect on themes of womanhood, expressed through paint and collage.
“It’s fun to bring an idea to fruition and achieve what the original thought pattern has been, and there are also times that the piece takes on a mind of its own!”
