If you’re scratching your head wondering what to buy that person on your Christmas shopping list “who has everything”, it could be worth making a visit to the Art Markets at Estuary Arts in Orewa this month.
On sale will be a range of unique and one-of-a-kind gifts made by artists from the Hibiscus Coast.
Gallery manager Kim Boyd says the art market was first held last year.
“The aim was to encourage locals to shop local by supporting artists and it was very successful,” she says. “As a result, we are putting on two markets this year.”
The first will be held on Friday December 1, from 4pm to 8.30pm, and will coincide with the opening of the annual under $500 Cash and Carry sale. There will be wine, nibbles and live music by local musician Stephen Thorne.
The second market will be on Sunday December 3, from 11am to 3.30pm.
All items for sale will be handmade and will include silverstone jewellery, stained glass decorative items, chainmaille jewellery, ceramics, mosaics, Kiwiana, prints and vintage doilies, candles and soaps. “And lots more,” Kim says.
Award-winning polymer clay mosaic artist and designer, Clair Fairweather, of Millwater, will demonstrate her jewellery-making techniques during the weekend.
“My mother was an artist and I studied art at school in the UK,” she says. “I started using polymer clay after moving to NZ, but I’m largely self-taught as it is a little known creative medium in NZ. In Europe and the US it is now considered a fine art medium.”
Claire says the versatility of the polymer means it can be used to make everything from jewellery and small accessories to models and miniatures, sculpture, paintings and mosaics. Many of the swirling patterns have a cultural feel to them.
“One of its real attractions is the way you can mix the colours to get just the shade you want; a bit like you do with paints.”
Claire has collected a number of awards for her work including Best in Sculpture at the International Polymer Awards in 2014 and Jurors’ Choice in Wearable Jewellery at the same awards this year.
