King Street Artworks exhibition

Some special treats for cat lovers are among the 400 artworks featuring in the annual King Street Artworks exhibition, Pride, opening at Aratoi – Wairarapa Museum of Art & History in Masterton on 25 June.

The cat-inspired works are the result of a King Street workshop run by ceramic artist Janet Green earlier this year. Among them are some imposing large-scale cats made from clay, which have been decorated with patterns and colourful glazes.

Also included among the 400 artworks are paintings, embroidery, felt, craft, woodwork and ceramics – all made by people who attend the Masterton creative space.

Celebrating artistic diversity 

Ian Chapman, King Street Artworks manager, says the exhibition celebrates all of its artists and their diversity.

“We are proud of the work here and proud of our artists,” he says. “This year’s title of the exhibition emerged from a discussion about taking pride in your work.”

Marcus Buroughs, Director of Aratoi, names the annual King Street exhibition as one of his personal favourites. “I love the diversity of the show, the commitment that goes into each artwork, and the excitement of the artists at the opening. I can’t wait!"

King Street Artworks is a creative space for people who use,or have used mental health services, their whanau, friends and the community. Its aims are to “promote wellbeing in the community through creative expression, placing whanaungatanga (family togetherness) at the heart of what we do”.

King Street Artworks programme
King Street Artworks welcomes people to use the wide range of facilities and resources available. Visitors can work on their own projects. Tutors, who are artists themselves, are on hand to help if needed, and to introduce artists to new techniques and ways of working through workshops.
King Street Artworks is open Monday to Friday (10am-3pm), and Saturdays (10am-2pm). Friday is women's day, and there is an outreach group that meets at the Featherston Community Centre every Tuesday (10am – 2.30pm).

Pride, a group exhibition by King Street Artworks artists, is on at Aratoi – Wairarapa Museum of Art & History, Bruce St, Masterton from 25 June to 24 July.