Puti puti: The FLower in Contemporary New Zealand

PUTI PUTI : The Flower in Contemporary New Zealand Art

Hastings City Art Gallery  10 July – 26 September

Since 1950, Hastings has celebrated the richness of the land with a Spring festival. Attracting over 50,000 people in its heyday, the Blossom Parade has now been revitalised to become a multi-cultural celebration, following a week long carnival of events. The September festival draws the community together and attracts visitor from around the country.

In 2010 the Hastings City Art Gallery will host a national art exhibition with the ‘flower’ as motivation or content in honour of the Hastings Blossom Festival. Curator Director Maree Mills says: PUTIPUTI: The Flower in Contemporary New Zealand Art will showcase current practise across all mediums: painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, photography, glass, jewellery, ceramic, applied art, design and installation.

 Participants confirmed to date (in alphabetical order) are:

Mary Ama, Renee Bevan, Linda Bruce, Christine Butler, Madeleine Child & Philip Jarvis, Adam Clarke, Evelyn Dunstan, Niki Hastings-McFall, Robert Yahnke, Gaye Jurisich, Andrea Gardner, Sally Lush,  Sylvia Marsters, Kim Meek, Koji Miyazaki, Nick Moon,  Richard Orjis, Neal Palmer, Reuben Paterson, Tania Patterson, Terrie Reddish, Sally Tagg, David Trubridge, Patrick Tyman, Francis Van Dammen, Layla Walter, Pamela Wolfe.

Many of the artists and designers selected are mid career practitioners, professionals in their field with extensive exhibition records, proving that the flower will always remain as an inspiration for creative practice.

The exhibition will be accompanied by an extensive public programme, over the period and will lead us out of the Winter into a joyous Spring.