Alice Fennessy, George Agius, Kirsty Porter, Laurence Gatehouse and Tom Armstrong

Bright colour, intimate expressions and skilful craftmanship fill this exhibition, which brings together local artists who explore the inner self through painting, weaving, drawing and glass work.

Like an intricate partition, Laurence Gatehouse’s complex, double-sided weavings stop us in our tracks to consider the connections between science, mathematics and art.

Serene and introspective, Alice Fennessy’s highly detailed drawings explore the rift of motherhood, while George Agius’ soft-pink glass blown sculptures embody the push and pull of adult relationships.

Considering the role of the artist in society, Kirsty Porter’s saturated watercolours are an interpretation of divination cards, to give help guide us through these tumultuous times. In contrast, Tom Armstrong’s candid, curious compositions explore the nuances of the artist as an observer of others.

Harking back to the Manawatū Review of the 1970s that helped launch the careers of artists like Andrew Drummond and Natalie Woodhams; this exhibition platforms five outstanding, locally-based artists to give a snapshot of what is being explored here and now, in the Manawatū. Seeking to elevate these artists, Manawatū Now! gives them the opportunity to make new work, challenge their approach to installation and have meaningful, visual conversations with each other.

Image:

George Agius, Wā: The Shape of Absence, 2024, blown glass. Collection of the artist. Photo: Leigh Mitchell-Anyon