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Pictured above from left: Artwork by Karen Vernon; Danielle Adams with her work.
‘Home and Country’ is the theme that binds together the new exhibition at the Mangawhai Artists Gallery.
The distinctive perspectives of artists Danielle Adams, Robert Looker and Karen Vernon reflect personal journeys, and the profound connection between place and identity.
Adams is a self-taught, fulltime resin artist whose work blends resin with other mediums to create powerful stories of healing, empowerment and connection. Drawing on her Māori heritage and love of nature, she infuses cultural knowledge into her art, celebrating both her Māori and English roots. Her art offers an immersive experience of beauty and cultural richness.
“Having lived in Kaiwaka for 20 years, I find inspiration in my community and surroundings. The resin techniques I use reflect my personal journey,” Adams says.
Looker, a fulltime artist, delves into themes of home and belonging, often blending memory with observation to capture the essence of the landscape. His paintings are a mix of figurative and abstract elements, featuring scenes like chairs in empty landscapes or winding paths leading to nowhere.
“My work is influenced by both my conscious and subconscious mind, employing techniques such as wet-on-wet and automatism to create dynamic, reflective pieces,” Looker says.
Vernon, from Coopers Beach, Mangonui, has been painting for more than 30 years, creating works that evoke emotion and tell stories.
“I believe we are most affected by the sense of sight, what we take in visually affects us mentally, physically and spiritually. Therefore, it is important we look upon art which will nourish and uplift us.”
Her diverse range of surreal oil paintings and mixed media pieces focuses on the themes of memory and heroism, especially during the world wars. In 2014, she was asked to send two large paintings to Monte Cassino in Italy to commemorate the Battle Cassino.
‘Home and Country’ is at the Mangawhai Artists Gallery, 45 Moir Street, Mangawhai, open daily from 10.30am to 3.30pm (and from 9am on Saturdays) until Thursday May 22.
