Yesterday I ventured out to the Estuary Arts Centre in Orewa to visit the highly anticipated printmaking exhibition Pressing Matters. The exhibition runs throughout the month of March and features over 150 works by New Zealand artists using printmaking as their primary medium.
I always enjoy visiting the Estuary Arts Centre. As a community-run gallery, it has a cosy, home-like feel that makes it very welcoming. There is a huge selection of works on display; many pieces are available for purchase, while others are on loan and not for sale. The calibre of talent presented in this exhibition really stood out to me, especially because of the variety on display. The subject matter ranges from landscapes to bird life, and the way the exhibition has been curated was another highlight.
The range of scale also caught my eye, with some pieces smaller than A5 in size while others are larger than A1. Adding to the diversity of the exhibition is the range of printmaking techniques used. Some works are woodcuts, while others are drypoint etchings and linocuts. The show is truly fantastic, but there is a lot to see. If you’re planning to visit, it’s worth going at least twice, if not three times to make sure you take it all in.
A couple of standout pieces for me included Stanley Palmer’s print of Karamea, which is no surprise as I have always loved the West Coast of the South Island. Another standout was Reuben Lankshear’s linocut titled Stewart’s Shed. I really appreciated the detail in the line work and the simplicity of the colour palette, just black, white, and blue.
Jeff Thomson’s screen prints on steel were also particularly interesting. As an artist who repurposes materials myself, Jeff’s work really resonated with me, especially his Royal Terrace pieces.
Lastly, the sculptures created by Kate McLean were incredible. I had never seen anything quite like the work she has produced, so it was exciting to encounter something so unique. Kate has created screen-printed earthenware sculptures of everyday objects such as telegraph poles, as well as several bowls featuring imagery that looks like a public swimming pool printed inside them. I particularly liked the use of the pool imagery, especially since the earthenware bowls themselves could hold water. It’s a very clever idea.
The exhibition runs through to Sunday 29th March. The gallery is open from 9am–4pm Monday to Friday, and 9am–3pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
