Box of Birds @ Reyburn House

Box of Birds is the latest exhibition at a local gallery, organized by local artist and member of the FIREBIRDS, Northlands Potters Group, Jeanine Oxenius.

    Jeanine embraced this project to give artists the challenge to go outside their comfort zone and to think 'outside' the box so to speak.
 
    30 artists mainly from Whangarei , with a few from further North are displaying their creations. Each artist was supplied with a neutral painted  wooden box of 250mm x 250mm x 110 mm.

    The challenge is to decorate, fill, paint or reconstruct this box to the theme - BOX OF BIRDS, A competition amongst artists.
  
    Whilst the majority are sculptors or painters, there are also  multi media- fabric - glass- and metal artists. The group ranges in talent from newcomers to well known artists in their respective fields.
 
    Jeanine  when she organizes an exhibition normally prefers to donates a part of the proceeds towards a charity. This time she thought it would be great to give something back to the people who actually support the arts. Without the art buyer there would be no art in a gallery . As a thank you, Art buyers  get the chance to buy a piece of art for the cost of the materials.

    (All boxes have a price tag of $185). Everyone wins in this case. Established artists get the chance to compare themselves with their piers, new comers get the chance to exhibit, visitors get an insight of the many ways an artist thinks and of course the  lucky one's  who get to take a box home ! The public will get to vote for their most favorite box .

    There will be a prize draw for the voters and a prize for the favorite artist . Go and have a look what’s in the box , you will enjoy it!.. and if you don’t, well perhaps it’s time to take on the challenge to do something better! Go fill a box and send in an image to oxenius@ihug.co.nz and who knows - you may be the next one exhibiting in a gallery near you.

     Thinking outside the box and not just filling them, is a bit of a speciality for this clever artist. Apart from being a painter and potter, Jeanine works also in cast glass and in her spare time rustle up a design or two for the wearable arts.
    
     Jeanine was a section winner in last years local  Itch to Stitch Bernina Fashion awards. This year she concentrated her artistic energies in creating  and having accepted, an outfit for the spectacular World of Wearable Arts show in Wellington. She is off to the windy city in September to represent her creation as a finalist in the bizarre bra section.