After a small set back when its Easter event was cancelled, the much-loved Raglan Arts Weekend (RAW) event is now back on, with a new date set for Labour Weekend, 24th to 26th October this year.
The popular open studio artist trail around Raglan is in its 11th year and enables visitors to meet artists in their own spaces, get a peek into the creative process and be the first to purchase new artworks developed specifically for the weekend.
“We’re keen to keep up our momentum and especially build on the success of our opening night of the Preview Exhibition, which we hosted literally a week before lockdown,” says Nicky Brzeska, RAW Co-ordinator. “It was pretty surreal going from an 80-person gathering and a new record for opening night sales, to no event in a matter of a week, but we’re so pleased we’re able to pull it off still,” she says.
Local businesses have really helped make this happen with Raglan Signs reprinting and installing signage for free, local graphic designer Mafia Designs making changes to artwork at no cost and others volunteering their time and skills to help make RAW a reality this year.
The 37 registered artists are rearing to go with only a couple sadly not making the new October date. The event promises to surprise and delight with a wide range of media including paint, photography, illustration, pottery, mosaic work, jewellery and organic sculpture, to name but a few. One unexpected outcome from the postponement is the inspiration that many of the artists have drawn from lockdown, as well as the time and breathing space to create more works. One such artist is Jane Galloway, whose incredibly detailed realist paintings have given way to a newer more abstract style, one that she has been nurturing in lockdown through a new course and lots of practice. For a taste of what’s on offer, interested folk should visit the Preview Exhibition at the Old School Arts Centre, open week days from 10 until 2pm until 26th October 2020. Here visitors will be able to see and purchase from the ‘Talking about Climate Change’ exhibition or pick up a limited 300×300 artwork for $200.
The Raglan Arts Weekend will run for three days over Labour Weekend from Saturday 24th October to Monday 26th October. It is a self-guided art trail visiting open studios of the very best artists that Whaingaroa has on offer. Most artist studios are open from 10am until 5pm.
For further information, visit raglanartsweekend.nz, @raglanart on Facebook, or pick up a copy of the new brochure from the Raglan Old School Arts Centre or various cafes and galleries across the North Island.
