A bold mixed media work called A Familiar Place, created by up-and-coming artist MJ Dain-Cutlerhunt, greets visitors as they enter the exhibition space.
The young artist and mother said she was thrilled to have her work chosen and put in such a prominent position.
To submit work, artists had to be members of Gisborne Artists’ Society and Friends of Tairāwhiti Museum.
Gisborne Artists’ Society’s annual exhibition opens on Friday at Tairāwhiti Museum. Standing in front of some of the works are (from left) Morva Thomson, Torri Stewart, MJ Dain-Cutlerhunt, Veronika Lambert and Amanda May. Photo / Kim Parkinson
Gisborne Artists’ Society is a community of Tairāwhiti-based artists of all ages and backgrounds.
Last month it recognised two new life members, David Andrew and Kath McLaughlin.
“This was a special occasion. They were the first new life members to be appointed in the four years I have been a member,” Lambert said.
Awarding a life membership was a way of acknowledging and thanking them for their contribution to the society, she said.
Andrew, the head of art at Gisborne Boys’ High School, said the best moments in his teaching life were when he saw students go on to successful careers, whether it be art or other fields.
“It makes it feel like all your efforts were worthwhile,” he said.
His art is influenced by the natural world and among his favourite New Zealand artists are Petrus Van der Velden and William (Bill) Sutton, who are known for their landscape paintings.
Andrew said he got a lot of pleasure seeing works produced by artists he knew personally.
“It is great to see the enjoyment people get from producing something of their own that they are happy with.”
McLaughlin joined Gisborne Artists’ Society in the early 2000s and ran life drawing classes for years, as well as organising workshops.
Having done everything from portraits to colourful landscape paintings, drawings and textile art, McLaughlin is experimenting with watercolour in combination with coloured pencil.
Lambert said the Annual Exhibition was an exciting opportunity to show off the society’s creativity to the local community.
The public can vote for their favourite piece across all disciplines in the Gordon Harris People’s Choice Award. The winner will be announced at the end of the exhibition.
Printmaker Torri Stewart welcomed the award, saying it encouraged the public to interact with the art and give artists feedback at the same time.
The 2026 Gisborne’s Artists, Potters and Photographers Annual Exhibition opens at Tairāwhiti Museum on Friday at 5.30pm. It runs to November 15.