Get ready for the third edition of Guerrilla Art Jam at the Raglan Old School Arts Centre on Friday, January 31 starting at 7pm.
A melding together of different art genres, Guerrilla Art Jam is the brainchild of Elisabeth Denis, who also works at the Arts Centre.
The Old School will be transformed into an interactive art space, with live painting and local arts exhibition, performances by musos, poets and story-tellers.
“You can expect to have all of your senses fulfilled and to be impressed by the talent coming from Auckland, Hamilton and Raglan. You can expect your belly to be full – thanks to Juan and his authentic tacos,” Elisabeth says.
Originally from Montreal, Canada, Elisabeth hosted her first Art Jam in the city of her birth as a way of bringing the creative talents of her friends together in one space.
“The goal was to congregate these humans into one big room and celebrate the arts in all its different forms in the hope of creating future collaboration or simply friendships,” she says.
Her second art jam, dubbed the unlimited pancake edition, was a family affair with her grandma making the pancakes, her mom at the door and her stepdad serving the delicious maple syrup/chocolate pancakes.
“Visitors paid $12 and got as many pancakes as they wished for. I really enjoyed doing it in Montreal because my family were wanting to be part of it too.”
Since moving to Raglan in 2018, Elisabeth knew she was in the perfect place to recreate the art jam concept and the upcoming event is the third to be held at the Old School.
A creative herself, Elisabeth studied communication and cinema, and she has taken her passion for photography and filmmaking on her travels around the world.
She came to New Zealand inspired by what she imagined to be a mostly untouched piece of paradise at the end of 2017.
“When I first landed, Waipu Cove became my home for two months but the community was missing. I then moved to Ashram Yoga in the Coromandel to re-centre myself and think of the next move. I then met a lady, who is still living in Raglan, and she inspired me to go and see what Raglan has to offer,” she says.
Raglan has been home now for the past two years and she explains, after her mother arrived for a holiday a short while later their plans on road-tripping around the North Island never eventuated.
“Our first destination was Raglan. As many travellers have experienced, we never left. She eventually did, but I stayed.”
Guerrilla Art Jam is a labour of love for Elisabeth; an opportunity to showcase a range of creativity with the wider community and honour the talents of the many friends she has made since making Raglan her home.
“This is where we all come together on a Friday evening to eat yummy food, chillax to live music, get a quick portrait of your wonderful face, observe UV light live painting, bring back home a few pieces of art from the exhibition, treat yourself to a few minutes massage and don’t forget to get some goodies from local artists.”
The line-up of artists includes Ellie Skeet, Ambro Art, Gila Cohen, Seb Hart and musicians Gabrielle Dumberry, F.R.E.D, Tyra Paama, Jayde Petaera and band, and massage therapist Amber will be offering $1 per minute massages.
Entry is by koha, and a licensed bar will be open and snacks will be available.
Janine Jackson
For more information contact elisabethdenis10@gmail.com or Facebook – Guerrilla Art Jam.
