Sometimes she works from photographs, but the women she portrays are drawn from her mind, rather than being real people.<\/p>\n
Throughout the exhibition, w\u0101hine are intertwined with native birds, insects, shells, botanical forms and organic patterns. <\/p>\n
The feminine presence within the works speaks to nurturing, intuition, softness and strength, mirroring the intelligence and balance found throughout nature itself. <\/p>\n
Each piece invites pause; an opportunity to look closer and reconnect with the smaller details that so often hold the deepest sense of wonder.<\/p>\n
Two works of photo-like quality that show Rosie Cruddas’ skill in illustration.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe works are heavily inspired by the stillness of life in Mahia and the impact that slower living has had on my physical and mental wellbeing, creativity and connection to the world around me,\u201d Cruddas said. <\/p>\n
\u201cIn a time where life can feel loud, fast and overwhelming, this exhibition is an offering of stillness, a reminder that there is beauty here already if we allow ourselves the time to see it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Quiet Work of Living asks the viewer to consider that perhaps heaven is not somewhere we arrive one day, but something we move through daily, often without realising.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rosie Cruddas’ Paper Nautilus in pencil and watercolour, part of a new exhibition at Matawhero Art Gallery.<\/p>\n
Cruddas is a British-born artist who went to art school in Britain and got a degree in illustration. She has spent a lot of time travelling the world, gathering inspiration from her experiences and adventures, but now lives a quieter life with her children and partner in the seaside settlement of Mahia.<\/p>\n
She has a studio there from which she sells directly to the public. <\/p>\n
\u201cI tend to sell my paintings as soon as I complete them, so I really had to knuckle down to produce enough work for this exhibition.\u201d <\/p>\n
Limited edition prints are also available for sale at the gallery. <\/p>\n
Her last exhibition was a celebration of w\u0101hine toa at Matawhero Art Gallery in 2024.<\/p>\n
W\u0101hine in pencil and watercolour are part of Rosie Cruddas’ new exhibition.<\/p>\n
A poem by Rosie Cruddas<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve been thinking about life,<\/p>\n
about heaven and hell <\/p>\n
About whether they\u2019re places,<\/p>\n
or just stories we tell.<\/p>\n
I used to think heaven<\/p>\n
was something you earn,<\/p>\n
After a lifetime<\/p>\n
of waiting your turn.<\/p>\n
But maybe it\u2019s simpler,<\/p>\n
closer than that<\/p>\n
In small quiet moments<\/p>\n
we rush straight past.<\/p>\n
Not in churches or walls,<\/p>\n
or the words that we say,<\/p>\n
But in subtle choices<\/p>\n
we make every day.<\/p>\n
In kindness given,<\/p>\n
with nothing to gain,<\/p>\n
In choosing love<\/p>\n
when it\u2019s easier pain.<\/p>\n
I sit back and ponder,<\/p>\n
a concept for you<\/p>\n
Of something not distant,<\/p>\n
but already in view.<\/p>\n
What if heaven is here,<\/p>\n
in our path, in the air,<\/p>\n
But we walk right through it <\/p>\n
unaware it is there?<\/p>\n
If we\u2019ve all been longing<\/p>\n
to arrive there one day,<\/p>\n
But it\u2019s waiting for us<\/p>\n
to stop looking away.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Sometimes she works from photographs, but the women she portrays are drawn from her mind, rather than being…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":483044,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[4914,442,498,499,500,1559,501,156,8493,4296,1229,12506,4188,80178,103808,111,139,69,90,28142,36649,115861,57723,28061,1361,223,4576],"class_list":["post-483043","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arts-and-design","tag-artists","tag-arts","tag-arts-and-design","tag-artsanddesign","tag-artsdesign","tag-called","tag-design","tag-entertainment","tag-exactly","tag-exhibition","tag-gallery","tag-gisborne","tag-living","tag-mahia","tag-matawhero","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-on","tag-quiet","tag-reflection","tag-reflections","tag-showcases","tag-slower","tag-that","tag-the","tag-work"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/483043","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=483043"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/483043\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/483044"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=483043"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=483043"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=483043"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}